Having erased any doubt to complete his two-fight Tyson Fury series with a more comprehensive decision win second time around in Riyadh in December, Oleksandr Usyk made clear that he needed rest.

That meant spending time with his wife Yekaterina and four children — including youngest daughter Maria, whose birth he missed in training camp last year — a chance to completely unplug from boxing.

Whether that be swatting away Daniel Dubois storming into the ring post-fight baying for a rematch, Fury feeling hard done by or even an ambitious move back to cruiserweight, where he once reigned supreme.

Yet when The Ring asked him how long it was before the unbeaten Ukrainian's thoughts shifted back towards a ring return, he admitted not much time at all.

"Two weeks. Not more than that," he revealed during a media roundtable discussion with the assembled written press at Wembley Stadium, the site of his July 19 undisputed showdown against another former foe.

"After the fight, I went to Spain with my guys … was running, did the bike, swimming pool, push-ups … it’s not good but I wanted to [be with] my team, regular training like CrossFit, shadowboxing.

"I called my wife, 'Hey listen, I’m going home because I wanna go to the gym. She said, 'I know.' I was training every day —

just Saturday and Sunday off — sauna, then go to Church and pray.

"It’s not possible, sometimes on the second floor of my house, I’m defending [moving positions] and maybe say to my wife, 'Punch me, punch me."

The intimate hospitality suite is in hysterics at this point, Usyk gesticulating that she responded by opening her arms to hug him rather than playfully spar. "I say no ... that's not good."

It's easy to forget, in moments like these, that Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs) hasn't just reached rarefied air but separated himself from the heavyweight pack in a way, at 38, has accelerated a desire to see him pass the torch.

Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs), 11 years his junior, may be enjoying career-best form and maturing but the unified titleholder holds a psychological edge from their Wroclaw, Poland, encounter in August 2023 — low-blow controversy or not.

While the bullish Brit spent his time talking about being a man of the future, winning at all costs, Usyk rejected any retirement talk and instead insisted his new motivation is simple: three-time undisputed champion.

His manager, Egis Klimas, asked media a half-rhetorical question after Usyk’s unanimous decision win over Fury in their rematch.

"What else does he need to prove that he's the best? Does he need to prove anything else? I don’t hear any answers. Thank you very much," he declared before the room broke into an impromptu Usyk chant.

Usyk called the second Fury fight easier than their first. The same couldn’t have been true of Anthony Joshua, though many believe it will be more difficult against Dubois who dismantled the latter at a sellout Wembley in September.

Everyone was quick to call that performance a changing of the guard, though unease has lingered with WBO interim champion Joseph Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) still waiting in the wings after their scheduled showdown was cancelled on short notice through a Dubois illness deep into fight week.

Nonetheless, while easy to get caught up over momentum and their contrasting trajectories, there's an unerring peace with which the visiting champion speaks.

Aware of Dubois' strengths and weaknesses, the body punching headed his way, Usyk would much rather talk about evolving his role within the sport, lending an experienced ear and source of inspiration for those who need it, the childhood friends who have unwaveringly stood by his side during this journey worldwide.

Through a translator, team director and trainer Sergey Lapin explains that while some shy away from the spotlight, they've collectively worked very hard to reach this position. Before he can continue, Usyk interjects.

"They've given their lives, given up on their families and sacrificed free time for me. It works both ways, of course. We're in this togethe. It's a brotherhood."

Unbeaten light heavyweight contender Daniel Lapin (11-0, 4 KOs) has risen to No. 8 with the WBA rankings in their May update and the 27-year-old proudly sits a few feet away here, as Usyk mentions he and others to exemplify this isn't just about him.

He’d rather spend free time playing football or breaking something in the house to anger his wife than go out drinking, smoking and clubbing — all vices some top-level boxers and athletes generally indulge. Ronaldo is used as an example, describing the now-retired Brazilian football star forward as a "candy advertisement," precisely what Usyk's trying to avoid as he ages gracefully.

During the press conference later on, Usyk joked talking of his belief that one day he'd play at Wembley. Now, he'll be fighting there — eight years and three months after compatriot and friend Wladimir Klitschko did.

Joshua was 27, in red-hot form with the activity to match and defending IBF champion heading into that contest. Klitschko exceeded expectations after a long Fury-shaped layoff, though sailed off into the sunset after combining to produce The Ring's Fight of the Year for 2017.

Dubois promises British boxing history will be made and Usyk, as you'd expect, agrees.