Not content with victories over Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois and Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk is now targeting another of this era’s leading heavyweights.
The 38-year-old recently relinquished his WBO heavyweight title, prompting the governing body to elevate Fabio Wardley from interim to full champion.
Britain’s absence from the title picture proved brief, coming just months after Usyk had beaten IBF champion Dubois in the summer to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight king.
Wardley is not currently on Usyk’s radar, but the Ukrainian has not ruled out a tilt at an unprecedented third undisputed crown. In the meantime, the division’s number one fighter has set his sights on a former WBC champion — and one of the most devastating punchers in heavyweight history.
After suffering one-sided defeats to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang, followed by a laboured win over little-known Tyrrell Anthony Herndon, it would have been understandable to think that world title opportunities had passed Deontay Wilder (44-4-1, 43 KOs) by. Instead, “The Bronze Bomber” has been handed a lifeline, with Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) keen to face the 40-year-old in 2026.
Wilder, typically quick to turn the volume up to 11 when called out, struck a respectful and gracious tone when speaking to Fight Hub TV.
“When he [Usyk] said that, in my mind I already said I accept, but I haven’t publicly said it. So I’m gonna look right here in this camera and say it: Usyk, I appreciate the opportunity and I accept.”
Robert Helenius was the last European to share a ring with Wilder, and “The Nordic Nightmare” felt the full force of his power when he was blasted out in a single round.
Usyk, meanwhile, has spent the last five years dismantling British opposition, and one has to go back to 2019 — when he stopped Chazz Witherspoon in the seventh round — to find the last time the Ukrainian faced an American.
