Oleksandr Usyk’s team has revealed that prolonged negotiations were the key reason a planned fight with Deontay Wilder never materialized, as the bout had appeared close to being finalized earlier this year.
Usyk had previously expressed interest in facing Wilder, hoping to add the former WBC champion’s name to his résumé. However, Wilder is now scheduled to face Derek Chisora on April 4 at the O2 Arena in London.
According to Usyk’s manager Sergey Lapin, talks for the fight were serious and even included plans for the Ukrainian to compete in the United States for the first time since his heavyweight debut. But the negotiations dragged on longer than expected, allowing Wilder to secure another opportunity instead.
Lapin explained that while discussions were ongoing, Wilder reached an agreement to face Chisora, a situation he described as common in boxing when multiple opportunities emerge during negotiations.
With Wilder now committed elsewhere, Usyk has shifted his focus to a bout with kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven. The two are scheduled to meet on May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza, where Usyk will defend his WBC heavyweight title.
Read more about Usyk vs. Verhoeven event here.
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