Negotiations for a showdown between Oleksandr Usyk and Deontay Wilder have reportedly been abandoned, with both heavyweights now being linked to alternative opponents.
Usyk initially expressed his interest in facing ‘The Bronze Bomber’ towards the end of last year, only to instead lock horns with former kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven.
The pair collided last May and, while having only entered one previous professional boxing match, Verhoeven managed to be surprisingly competitive against his masterful opponent.
Ultimately, though, Usyk did what he does best and found a way to win – stopping the Dutchman in round 11 – before vacating his WBC, IBF and WBA titles shortly after.
In doing so, the Ukrainian also revealed his plan to fight just once more, with Wilder emerging as a likely opponent for him to face under Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing banner.
It would now appear that both heavyweights have gone their separate ways, however, with boxing journalist Mike Coppinger reporting that Wilder could end up facing former world cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia.
Taking to social media, the Ring Magazine reporter explained that Opetaia, who comes off a ninth-round stoppage of Noel Mikaelian last month, could fight once more this year before pursuing a cruiserweight encounter with unified champion David Benavidez.
“A Jai Opetaia-Deontay Wilder heavyweight fight is being explored for the Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua undercard [on December 11] in Cardiff, sources tell [Ring Magazine].
“This wouldn’t impact any potential showdown with Benavidez, who’s fighting [WBC cruiserweight champion Michal] Cieslak on [December 5].”
A Jai Opetaia-Deontay Wilder heavyweight fight is being explored for the Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua undercard Dec. 11 in Cardiff, sources tell @ringmagazine. This wouldn’t impact any potential showdown with Benavidez, who’s fighting Cieslak on Dec. 5. pic.twitter.com/BgFPh9HzQf
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) October 8, 2026
Coppinger went on to say that talks between Usyk and Wilder are now “dead”, while Benavidez has claimed that, if an Opetaia fight cannot be made for Cinco de Mayo weekend in 2027, he will instead be pursuing a clash with Usyk.
Unified cruiserweight champion Benavidez has long said that facing Usyk would be “an honour”, but had previously said that he was holding off on moving up to heavyweight in order to become dominant at cruiserweight.
