Deontay Wilder’s Shock World Title Challenge Receives Major Boost

Deontay Wilder could be about to be catapulted right back into world title contention despite being out of the picture for a couple of years.

‘The Bronze Bomber’ was previously a long-ruling WBC champion who knocked out every man he faced in his first 39 fights, until he drew with Tyson Fury and was then stopped in the two ensuing fights in their trilogy.

Since then, he has also been beaten on points by Joseph Parker and stopped inside five rounds by Zhilei Zhang back in 2024, though did register a comeback KO victory back in June against Tyrell Herndon.

READ: Terence Crawford Talks PED Allegations, How Mayweather Would Give Him Problems

Earlier this week, he was given a route back to the top when two-time undisputed heavyweight ruler Oleksandr Usyk said he would be keen to fight the American.

The fight has now got one step closer as the WBC have granted Usyk the right to make a voluntary defence against Wilder, as president Mauricio Sulaiman told Sky Sports.

“Deontay Wilder is ranked No 8 or 9 so he’s eligible to challenge Oleksandr Usyk if they wish to do so. Usyk did petition for a voluntary defence which was granted today.”

A spokesperson for the IBF has also cleared the way.

“The IBF is not next in the rotation. It would only become an issue for us if he were due to make a mandatory defence of his IBF title.”

Wilder would be a huge name on the record of Usyk, who is a naturally small man for the heavyweight division, having first campaigned at cruiserweight, where he also became an undisputed champion.

Oleksandr Usyk explained why Deontay Wilder sits at the top of his personal hit list — and it has nothing to do with belts, rankings, or business.

Speaking with the same calm conviction that has defined his rise from undisputed cruiserweight king to two-time undisputed heavyweight ruler, Usyk made it clear that choosing Wilder is about answering a deeper challenge — the kind only a puncher of Wilder’s reputation can pose.

JUST IN: Deontay Wilder has already explained exactly how he would beat Oleksandr Usyk

Usyk: “The Cat” chasing the division’s most dangerous puncher
“I want to fight Wilder because he’s a very famous guy during the last few years, was a champion, and is a very dangerous opponent,” Usyk explained. “I’m not looking for a dangerous guy, as all my opponents are dangerous.”

Wilder, to Usyk, isn’t just another contender — he’s the heavyweight test that exposes a fighter’s nerve long before a punch is thrown. Usyk isn’t interested in sidestepping that test. He wants to confront it.

“Size doesn’t matter,” he said. “If size mattered, the king of the animals would be the elephant.”

Then came the line that sums him up: “My nickname is the cat. But the cat is very dangerous. Lion is two cat, tiger is two cat.”

For Usyk, Wilder is simply another “lion” the cat intends to tame.

No interest in the size debate
Since moving to heavyweight, discussion has centred on size, reach, and weight — none of which ever concerned him.

“For two years I lived in the gym, and I am champion,” he said. “My most difficult opponent is me. Always, the chances for me are fifty-fifty, but I win all the time.”

For Usyk, heavyweight success is discipline, not dimensions. His “second Alexander” persona switches on when it matters most.

God, family, work — everything else follows
Long camps away from home have only sharpened his priorities.

“God, family, team, friends, cars, house, dogs, cats, food, and motorbike,” he listed. “Listen… money is the effect of the work.”

Wilder, in that order of life, isn’t a payday. He has another task to complete.

Old-school inspiration, modern motivation
Evander Holyfield’s path continues to resonate with Usyk.

“I read a lot about him,” Usyk said. “When we met, it was very interesting to hear the old school stuff… If you continue to work, you will grow.”

It’s that mentality — persistence, repetition, growth — that drives his interest in Wilder. Greatness, not danger, is the pursuit.

War at home, perspective everywhere
On Ukraine, Usyk’s tone turned solemn.

“Our people are smart and brave, defending themselves against aggression against those who are trying to destroy our independence.”

The conflict has sharpened every moment of his career, adding gravity to every fight he takes.

And the hair? Usyk just smiles
Asked about his current look, he simply grinned.

“Listen, I’ve heard the Beatles. Like or not like, I cannot say… Fifty-fifty, but I do like my hair.”

The bottom line
Usyk doesn’t want Wilder for ease, danger, or money. He wants the fight because Wilder represents the heavyweight puzzle that only a select few dare to solve.

The cat is ready to play, and Wilder is next in line.

Deontay Wilder believes he has what it takes to become the first man to knock out Oleksandr Usyk.

The heavyweight titans could be set to share the ring together in 2026 after both men expressed interest in locking horns in the not-so-distant future.

Usyk initially called out Wilder after relinquishing his WBO heavyweight title last month.

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‘The Bronze Bomber’s’ manager, Shelly Finkel, then stated that they would be happy to factor Usyk into their plans for next year.

“Usyk is a great champion,” Finkel told Sky Sports.

“We have plans for next year, and we’d like Oleksandr Usyk to be part of them.

“If we receive the right offer, we would be open to that fight.”

How Deontay Wilder believes he can knock out Oleksandr Usyk

It seems Usyk isn’t just a cash-out option for Wilder, either, as the American has already laid out exactly how he believes he can beat the undefeated star.

“[I will need to use] jabs, using lateral movement and doing what I do best – coming with the right hand,” said Wilder during an interview with Fight Hub TV ahead of his bout with Zhilei Zhang last year.

“I feel like, if I connect with anyone, with the right hand, it is going to be devastating. It will be a knockout.

“So, I would have to strategise to get him, but one thing about it is that he is a southpaw and I love southpaws.

“I am always coming to give people what they want to see as a heavyweight, and that’s the knockout.”

Oleksandr Usyk vs Deontay Wilder has major obstacle cleared

The fight has received the green light from the WBC, with the organisation’s president, Mauricio Sulaiman, revealing that the Championship Committee had granted a petition filed by Usyk.

He told Sky Sports: “Deontay Wilder is ranked No.8. or No.9, so he’s eligible to challenge Oleksandr Usyk if they wish to do so.

“Usyk did petition for a voluntary defence, which was granted today.”

The IBF also wouldn’t take any issue with Usyk boxing Wilder next.

A spokesperson told the same publication: “The IBF is not next in the rotation.

“It would only become an issue for us if he were due to make a mandatory defence of his IBF title.”

Usyk will now wait to receive the same blessing from the WBA.

Oleksandr Usyk vs Deontay Wilder fight hurdle cleared as breakthrough made over title defence

Oleksandr Usyk has been given permission by the WBC to make a voluntary world title defence against Deontay Wilder.

Usyk became undisputed heavyweight world champion for the second time with a stunning KO of Daniel Dubois in July.

He was ordered to next defend his WBO title against Fabio Wardley, but then elected to vacate the belt for ‘business reasons’.

JUST IN: Oleksandr Usyk confirms next fight, why it’s the perfect choice and why it’s not

In a huge surprise, the Ukrainian suggested that his priority was now a showdown with American heavyweight Deontay Wilder.

Wilder’s team have since confirmed that they are open to the bout, and it appears that the mutual interest could formalise in 2026.

There are several hurdles that are believed to be in the way of the bout materialising including obtaining permission from the governing bodies.

But WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has now revealed that Usyk has filed a petition which has been granted.

He told Sky Sports: “Deontay Wilder is ranked No.8. or No.9 so he’s eligible to challenge Oleksandr Usyk if they wish to do so.

“Usyk did petition for a voluntary defence which was granted today.”

Usyk will now likely have to gain permission with the WBA and IBF to get the deal over the line.

The IBF next in line is set to be decided by an imminent eliminator between Richard Torrez Jr and Frank Sanchez.

Meanwhile Kubrat Pulev currently holds the WBA ‘regular’ belt but will first defend his title against Murat Gassiev before the end of the year.

Why does Usyk want to face Wilder over any other challenger?

Usyk has made it clear that he hasn’t got much time left at the peak of his powers.

And the Ukrainian has already beaten some of the best operators in his path in the division including Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.

For that reason, he is seeking a showdown with the most lucrative potential.

Ultimately, he is confident that there would be more commercial interest in seeing him face Wilder, than a clash with the dangerous puncher Wardley.

He suggested: “I want a fight with Deontay Wilder, for me, I think it is interesting.

“This is a world champion guy, this is a very famous guy, this is a strong guy.

“He is one of the great heavyweights of the last 10 years. Now, I only have one person [in my mind], and that is Deontay.”

The great Oleksandr Usyk has spoken – we now know who the unified world heavyweight champion wants to meet in his next fight.

Usyk (24-0) is now 38 years old and has done everything in boxing a man could desire. Olympic champion, undisputed cruiserweight world champion and now a two-time undisputed world heavyweight champion.

The Ukrainian maestro has scaled every summit, repelled every challenger, mostly on the road in hostile environments. In the case of British stars Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois – he’s done it twice.

Usyk was forced to give up his WBO world title last month, clearly not believing that his next move should be a mandatory defence against Britain’s fairytale fighter Fabio Wardley.

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Instead Oleksandr is looking to bigger things, and has named the man he wants to meet. And it is – drum roll – big-punching former WBC king Deontay Wilder.

Usyk would start a huge favourite for this one, should it happen in 2026. And the Wilder camp appear game, why wouldn’t they?

There are reasons to believe it’s the absolute perfect choice for Usyk, and there are reasons to feel just a little bit underwhelmed at the same time. Here is why…

Usyk vs Wilder, why it’s perfect

We should say first that Usyk has earned the right to choose who he fights – he owes no man nor sanctioning body anything after his glittering career to date. And in many ways, he’s chosen perfectly here.

It appears Fury and Joshua are on course to meet each other at some stage next year (September in London appears to be the likely landing spot for that long-awaited superfight). So those two would be out as potential opponents, and would we really want a trilogy fight anyway?

The rest of the heavyweights just below that elite level are made up of contenders, fighters who may be really good or even great one day, but don’t have the CV to demand a huge TV audience. Wardley, Agit Kabayel, Joseph Parker etc. None really set the pulse racing.

The one man still in the top 15 who does have some box office potential is Wilder. The man from Tuscaloosa, Alabama is now 40 years old and has not looked remotely impressive since losing to Fury in an epic trilogy fight in late 2021.

But Wilder has two things in his favour – he is American, and he has a huge right hand. The ability to draw a crowd, with at least the lingering threat he could do something incredible. It’s Rocky territory.

Outside of Fury and Joshua, and a crossover fight with Jake Paul (please, no) Wilder might be the biggest payday out there for Usyk. So of course, it makes sense.

And why it’s not perfect

So we’ve given you the reasons why Usyk is right to choose Wilder, now the flip side.

Oleksandr is an amazing fighter, one who always relishes taking on the biggest of challenges. Sadly, these days, Deontay is not that.

Wilder was massively unimpressive in losing his last two meaningful fights – to Joseph Parker in December 2023 and Chinese giant Zhilei Zhang in the summer of 2024. He has never been a technically gifted fighter but he appeared shot on both occasions, no longer able to pull the trigger either.

‘The Bronze Bomber’ did return to the ring in June 2025, stopping Tyrrell Herndon in seven rounds in Wichita. But aside from maybe removing a little ring rust, one look at Herndon’s record shows that fight proved nothing.

Ask most experts out there about Wilder and they will tell you he is a shadow of the fighter who once struck fear into the hearts of opponents. Even in his pomp he needed that knockout punch, most rivals would comfortably outbox him.

While on the face of it, to the casual, it is a fight which might sell to a point in America (or Saudi), it’s hardly a dangerous assignment for Oleksandr. And for that reason, we are just a little bit underwhelmed.

So who should Usyk fight?

So as we said, Usyk has earned the choice here to make his own decision, but that does not mean we can’t all have an opinion. And there is one fight out there, that is available, which would absolutely set the pulse racing.

Moses Itauma, the 13-0 British phenom, is the most exciting thing to hit the heavyweight division since Mike Tyson back in the 1980s. A devastating mix of speed, power and ring savvy. Put simply, he looks the realest of deals.

Fighting Itauma would undoubtedly be a risk for Usyk, the biggest risk out there for him right now. But he has made a career by taking on the mightiest challenges, by elevating his legacy even further.

Usyk vs Itauma would be a massive collision of the young pretender against the brilliant and established champion. A crossroads fight for the heavyweight division and a matchup to savour.

Maybe it will happen one day but for now it appears Oleksandr is headed in a different direction. Yes, he’ll make some money, and yes he will beat Wilder.

But us, we’re just a little bit underwhelmed…