Usyk names the opponent he wants to fight in 2026
2 December 2025 04:00
Absolute world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk said that next year he wants to fight against American Deontay Wilder. The Ukrainian boxer said this in a commentary to the Boxing King Media YouTube channel, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
Usyk called Wilder a priority opponent
When planning his career for 2026, Usyk openly noted that Wilder is his first choice for his next fight. According to the Ukrainian, the American is one of the strongest and most famous boxers of the last decade.
“I will continue to fight next year. I want to fight Diontey Wilder. This is an interesting option. He is a former world champion, a strong and famous boxer. One of the best in the heavyweight division in the last ten years. This is exclusive information – I’m discussing it with my team right now. There is no alternative option now: for me, there is only Diontei,” Usyk said.
Who is Deontay Wilder?
the 40-year-old American is a former WBC world heavyweight champion and 2008 Olympic bronze medalist.
He held the championship belt for almost five years and successfully defended the title 10 times.
His record was impeccable – 40 wins in a row – until his first fight with Tyson Fury.
After the trilogy with Fury, Wilder won only 4 out of 9 fights.
His last victory came in June this year, when he knocked out Tyrell Herndon in the seventh round.
What are Usyk’s current rankings?
Oleksandr Usyk last boxed in May – in a fight against Daniel Dubois, where he became the absolute world champion for the second time.
However, in late October, it became known that Usyk had given up the WBO title, which he was supposed to defend against the British Fabio Wardley.
on October 26, the WBO announced Wardley as a mandatory challenger.
on November 18, the organization confirmed: Usyk is no longer the absolute champion after relinquishing the WBO belt.
In September, the WBO had already granted the Ukrainian a grace period to defend his titles, but now the status has been changed permanently.
Despite the loss of the WBO belt, Usyk retains the WBA, WBC and IBF titles and, according to him, wants to make a big fight with Deontay Wilder.
It should be noted that Usyk has officially become one of the richest boxers in the world. The British publication GiveMeSport has published a ranking of the richest boxers of all time, and the Ukrainian took the honorable fifth place.
Usyk’s fortune is estimated at $214 million, which is $68 million more than his main rival in the ring, Tyson Fury.
It is noted that Oleksandr Usyk is estimated to have earned about $100 million for his second victory over Tyson Fury.
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