Maxim Prodan Reflects on Fight in Usyk vs. Joshua Undercard

Ukrainian boxer Maxim Prodan has reminisced about his fight that occurred in the undercard of the inaugural bout between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua. This match was a pivotal moment in Prodan's career, as he faced a defeat that significantly impacted his future performances in the ring.

In 2019, Maxim Prodan claimed the international title under the IBF banner after defeating Belgian boxer Steve Jamoye in a ten-round match. Following this victory, the Ukrainian fighter successfully defended his title in subsequent bouts. However, on September 25, 2021, in London, Albanian boxer Florian Marku stripped Prodan of his title. This loss marked the first defeat for the Bukovinian boxer in his professional career, undoubtedly a heavy blow for the athlete.

After this setback, Prodan was scheduled to fight Italian Luis Enrique Romero, which also ended in defeat for the Ukrainian boxer. In a conversation with NV journalist, Prodan shared his experience of returning to the ring after two consecutive losses and how he managed to win five fights following that challenging period.

“You fought on the undercard of Usyk vs. Joshua. You lost that fight. Did it hit you hard?” the journalist asked. Maxim responded, “Yes, of course, it set me back a few steps. After that, I was immediately given another fight. I went into the ring fueled by emotions and knocked my opponent down right away. He fell, then got back up and caught me with a counterpunch. And then it was really bad.”

The journalist also inquired about the level of organization of that boxing evening featuring Usyk vs. Joshua, noting that it seemed to be Prodan's only fight outside of Italy. “I also fought in Albania. But, you know, as a boxer, I don’t see much difference. For me, it’s all the same. What organization is there? The main thing is that I stepped into the ring to box. The ring, four corners—that’s it. I got paid, and that’s all that matters. The rest is secondary,” the boxer stated.

Additionally, Maxim shared his thoughts on how he bounced back after defeats. “I had to keep fighting. I needed to accept the loss. It’s normal. Psychologically, I didn’t lose—I could evaluate that fight in different ways. I kept training and boxing. But time goes on, month after month, and you have to pay for everything. That’s how it is,” he explained.

When asked about his boxing dreams, Prodan replied, “To become a European champion, to have a good payday fight. Or in America—a good payday fight. To finally earn some money. That’s not the most important thing, but a nice title—a European champion, or intercontinental, or interim world champion. We have those here in Italy. I’ve already sparred with them. I don’t think they are extraordinary boxers. I can box with anyone.”

Currently, Maxim Prodan resides near Milan, having moved there in 2013, and works as a driver at an Italian metal processing factory. He is preparing for a match against Moldovan Ion Katarau, scheduled for April 11. In May, he has a semifinal bout for the Italian championship against Valerio Mantovani.

Earlier, we reported that the renowned Ukrainian boxer admitted how the championship title changed his life.