Deontay Wilder, once a top contender in the heavyweight division, has slipped in the rankings over the past few years. However, Oleksandr Usyk, who currently holds the WBA, IBF, and WBC heavyweight titles, expressed a strong desire to face Wilder in the ring next. Usyk told Boxing King Media that Wilder is his preferred opponent, praising him as a world champion and one of the most formidable heavyweights of the past decade.
Usyk, with an undefeated record of 24 wins and no losses (15 by knockout), last fought in July, where he decisively defeated Daniel Dubois with a fifth-round knockout. This victory made Usyk the undisputed heavyweight champion for the second time, a title he first secured after defeating Tyson Fury in May 2024. Despite being stripped of the IBF belt for opting to rematch Fury instead of facing a mandatory challenger, Usyk reclaimed the IBF title by defeating Fury again, after Dubois initially took it.
Usyk is set to give up the WBO title, which will be passed to Fabio Wardley, and he also has a history as a former cruiserweight champion. Meanwhile, Wilder, boasting a record of 44 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw with 43 knockouts, was known for his exceptional knockout power during his career. He snagged the WBC title in January 2015 and defended it 10 times before losing to Tyson Fury by stoppage in February 2020, followed by another defeat to Fury shortly after.
Wilder returned to winning with a first-round knockout of Robert Helenius but faced setbacks in bouts against Joseph Parker and Jirayi Zhang, where he appeared hesitant and less effective. His most recent fight saw him knock out Tyrrell Herndon in the seventh round. Though ranked 13th by the WBC, Wilder is not ranked by the other major sanctioning bodies at the moment.
Fan Take: This potential matchup between Usyk and Wilder is an intriguing prospect for boxing fans, as it pits a technically skilled, undefeated champion against one of the most powerful punchers in heavyweight history. Such a fight could deliver thrilling moments and shift the heavyweight landscape, reigniting excitement in the division.
