The heavyweight division is stirring again. After a relatively quiet 2025, the pace looks set to quicken in 2026.
January alone brings the returns of top contenders Agit Kabayel and Moses Itauma, while former lineal champion Tyson Fury has already announced his decision to end his latest retirement and return to the ring this year.
WBO champion Fabio Wardley could make the first defence of his title before spring. But the biggest question remains the future of unified champion Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian boxed just once in 2025, claiming undisputed status for a second time with his rematch victory over Daniel Dubois. Having since vacated the WBO belt, Usyk could yet chase a hat-trick of undisputed reigns — but before any potential showdown with Wardley, he is widely expected to defend his remaining three titles against former WBC champion Deontay Wilder.
Usyk’s interest in facing “The Bronze Bomber” has surprised many, given Wilder’s recent performances, which have fuelled the belief that the American is past his best and no longer carries the same aura of fear created by his concussive knockout power.
Yet Usyk’s career has been defined by a willingness to face the best of his era. Victories over Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois and Tyson Fury underline that ambition, and it was against Fury that Usyk made history, becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis achieved the feat by defeating Evander Holyfield in their 1999 rematch.
Lewis, boxing’s last undisputed heavyweight king before Usyk, recently offered his verdict when speaking to Pro Boxing Fans.
“I think Usyk is way too great to lose that fight. I think it’s going to be an easy fight for Usyk. Everybody wants to see that fight. I think Usyk has it hands down.”
If the bout does materialise, it would pit the division’s most complete modern heavyweight against a fading but still dangerous puncher — a clash between control and chaos. And while Wilder’s right hand always offers a threat, history suggests Usyk has already solved far tougher problems than that.
