After weeks of speculation, it seems as though Deontay Wilder may not face Oleksandr Usyk next. Instead, the reigning and unified heavyweight champion is now open to facing an undefeated challenger.
Usyk surprised fight fans when he publicly targeted a showdown with ‘The Bronze Bomber’, who has lost four of his last six professional contests but remains as one of the biggest names in the division, in particularly across the pond.
Talk of a record-breaking event was rife, with a belief that Usyk and Wilder could break a near-century old record for the highest attended boxing event, currently held by Tony Zale’s 1941 middleweight title defence against Billy Prior, which attracted 135,132 spectators.
However, the supposed progression of those talks appears to have been false, with Wilder’s manager Shelly Finkel revealing that negotiations had yet to take place.
Instead, today’s reports suggest that Wilder will is finalising a deal to head to the United Kingdom for a first career outing on British soil ans looks set to be the opponent for Derek Chisora’s farewell fight in London in three months’ time.
As for Usyk, a summer return remains the expectation, but Wilder’s showdown with ‘Del Boy’ has him looking at alternate opposition, with manager Sergey Lapin telling talkSPORT Bet Slot Site that Germany’s Agit Kabayel is in contention for a shot at the Ukrainian mastermind.
“In today’s heavyweight top division there are no “safe” opponents, every top-level guy is a threat. Kabayel is definitely a possible option. We see how Germany reacts to these fights, the stadiums they can fill, and how strong that market is.
Stylistically he can be tricky too. Pressure, pace, physicality. It would be a big European fight with strong business potential.”
Wilder may still be the planned dance partner for Usyk’s next appearance, but if so, it will surely hinge on the American impressing against Chisora. Should he lose or underwhelm, it appears as though Kabayel could become the new frontrunner to challenge for the throne.
