UNIFIED (WBC, WBA and IBF) world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine is assiduously working on a fight with former heavyweight titlist Deontay Wilder of the United States.
Just how serious is Usyk in pursuing a showdown with Wilder?
Well, WBO interim heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley is supposed to be the next challenger for Usyk. The WBO is next in the rotation of Usyk’s title defense of the undisputed crown but Usyk opted to vacate the WBO throne to focus on Wilder.
Wardley (20-0, 1 draw, 19 knockouts) has since been promoted to full-time WBO heavyweight champ. Usyk is no longer the undisputed, four-belt champ but he still has the WBA, WBC, and IBF belts.
With the mandatory WBO defense out of the way, Usyk is now free to pursue a voluntary defense. In a voluntary defense, the champ can defend the crown against an opponent who is not required to be the mandatory contender.
Wilder is nowhere close to being a mandatory contender. He is not even ranked in the Top 10 by the four governing bodies. The WBC ranks Wilder at No. 13 in its ranking.
The WBC, apparently next in the rotation, has expressed its willingness to sanction Usyk-Wilde.
Usyk’s fascination with Wilder has piqued the interest of fight fans.
While a former WBC heavyweight champion, Wilder had seen better days.
Wilder, 40, has lost four of his last six fights. Three of the four losses came via devastating knockouts against Chinese Zhilei Zhang and Briton Tyson Fury (2x).
Wilder (44-4, 1 draw, 43 knockouts) was once the most feared heavyweight in the ring.
Nicknamed “The Bronze Bomber,” Wilder offered limited skills and a porous defense, but the power in his right hand sent foes to dreamland in a wink of an eye. Wilder had paralyzing power.
Wilder toted a frightening record of 42-0 with 41 knockouts when he was bamboozled by Fury in seven rounds in February 2020. In a rematch in October 2021, Fury repeated the trick and stopped Wilder in 11 pulsating rounds.
Wilder’s career has since been drifting into oblivion. From out of the blue, Usyk expressed interest in rubbing mitts with him.
There is a reason why Usyk wants Wilder’s name in his resume.
Usyk, 38, is already mulling on retiring from the fight game. He claimed that he may be down to his last two or three fights. Recently, he clarified that he would box until age 41.
The last thing Usyk wants is to take on newcomers who will not add to his legacy. This explains why he readily gave up the WBO title instead of defending it against Wardley.
Usyk also ruled out a fight with upcoming British prospect Moises Itauma (13-0, 11 knockouts) this year. As Usyk puts it, the youngsters are better off fighting each other.
Usyk wants Wilder because the latter will add to his legacy.
Wilder was a dominant WBC heavyweight champ during his heyday, holding the WBC title for five years or from January 2015 until February 2020. He made 10 successful defenses of the crown, all by stoppage.
In the last 10 years, (2015-2025), the most dominant heavyweight champions have been Usyk, Fury, Wilder, and Anthony Joshua.
Joshua was a two-time unified world heavyweight champion. He first achieved this milestone from 2018 to 2019 and then reclaimed the unified titles from 2019 to 2021.
Fury was a two-time heavyweight champ. He held the WBC title from 2020-2024 and was unified champ from 2015-2016.
If Usyk beats Wilder, his record will show that he was able to beat all the dominant heavyweight champions of his era.
Usyk, 24-0 with 15 knockouts and a two-time undisputed heavyweight champ, has beaten former champions Joshua (twice) and Fury (twice).
Adding Wilder will complete his list.
Of course, people will say that Usyk is taking on a washed up Wilder. It will make no difference because decades from now people will only look at Usyk’s record and note the fact that he defeated all the marquee champs of his time.
Other than the legacy aspect, there is also the monetary aspect.
Wilder may not be the same fighter, but his name still attracts top dollar. Win or lose, Wilder is always in an exciting fight. He may be down on his luck, but there is still no telling what can happen when he lands that big right hand of his.
Usyk will most likely get his wish. Wilder is not a popular choice, but Usyk is the one calling the shots.