Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has delivered a significant snub to rival Tyson Fury by publicly naming the Gypsy King's old foe, Deontay Wilder, as his preferred next opponent.
Usyk's Future Plans and Fury's Hopes Dashed
The 38-year-old Ukrainian, who has not fought since his knockout win over Daniel Dubois in July, is targeting a return to the ring next year. This announcement comes after Usyk previously stated 2026 would be his final year in professional boxing, only to perform a U-turn in October by suggesting he could fight until age 41.
While his intention to continue fighting offered a boost to Tyson Fury—who has long campaigned for a third fight—Usyk's latest comments have poured cold water on that prospect. Fury announced his retirement in January but confirmed a planned comeback in July, though his future in the sport remains uncertain. A lucrative trilogy bout with the two-time undisputed champion was seen as a major lure for the Morecambe fighter.
The Call-Out: "I Want to Fight Deontay Wilder"
In a clear statement of intent, Usyk outlined his ambitions during an interview with Boxing King Media. "I want to continue fighting next year. I want to fight Deontay Wilder," declared the champion. He elaborated on his choice, praising Wilder's stature: "He's a world champion guy, a very famous guy, this is a strong guy, and he is one of the greatest heavyweight fighters of the last ten years."
Usyk's desire to face Wilder sets up a fascinating clash of styles, pitting his technical mastery against one of the most fearsome punchers in boxing history. Wilder, known as the 'Bronze Bomber', held the WBC world title from 2015 until 2020, making ten successful defences against fighters including Luis Ortiz and Bermane Stiverne.
Wilder's Legacy and Current Form
The iconic rivalry between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury is a cornerstone of modern heavyweight boxing. Their epic trilogy consisted of a dramatic draw in 2018, followed by two knockout victories for Fury in 2020 and 2021.
Since his second defeat to Fury, the 40-year-old American's record has been mixed. He returned with a knockout win over Robert Helenius in 2022 but then suffered back-to-back losses to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang. Wilder got back to winning ways with a victory against Tyrrell Anthony Herndon in June and is also eyeing a ring return in 2026.
For now, the boxing world's attention shifts from a potential Fury-Usyk trilogy to the tantalising prospect of Usyk testing his legendary resilience against the concussive power of Deontay Wilder.
