Oleksandr Usyk has made his intentions clear: he wants Deontay Wilder next, calling him “the first option” after consulting with the team.
Usyk is coming off a dominant stoppage win over Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in July, a victory that made him a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion. Although he later vacated the WBO belt Usyk remains the division’s top figure and is actively seeking the biggest challenges available.
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Speaking to Boxing King Media, Usyk explained why Wilder is the matchup he wants. “I want to fight Deontay Wilder. I think it's interesting,” he said. “He is a world champion guy. A very famous and strong guy, one of the great heavyweights of the last 10 years.”
Wilder has endured a difficult stretch since his trilogy with Tyson Fury, suffering stoppage defeats to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang. He recently returned with a seventh-round stoppage of Tyrrell Anthony Herndon, but it is still debatable how much he has left at the elite level.
Despite the American’s slump, Usyk sees value in the matchup. If Usyk gets his wish, 2026 could open with one of the most intriguing heavyweight fights available.
Image Credit: Sky Sports