Oleksandr Usyk expresses desire to fight Deontay Wilder who would be open to world title clash in 2026
Oleksandr Usyk wants to defend his world heavyweight titles against Deontay Wilder, who has welcomed a fight against the unified champion.
The Ukrainian has broken his silence about his next career move, confirming that he wants to put his WBC, WBA and IBF belts on the line against Wilder.
Usyk has been absent from the ring since his stoppage of Daniel Dubois in their July rematch, but the two-time undisputed world heavyweight champion is now targeting the American, who had a lengthy reign as the WBC champion.
Speaking at the WBC convention in Thailand, Usyk told Boxing King Media: “I want to fight Deontay Wilder. I think it’s 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.”
Wilder, who returned to the ring with a seventh-round stoppage of Tyrrell Anthony Herndon in June, would be open to a fight against Usyk.
“Usyk is a great champion,” Wilder’s co-manager Shelly 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.”
The Alabama fighter could receive the chance to become a world champion again, a decade after he dethroned Bermane Stiverne to become WBC champion in January 2015.
Usyk became the undisputed world heavyweight champion for a second time after he halted Dubois in the fifth round at Wembley Stadium.
The unbeaten 38-year-old vacated the WBO belt last week and Britain’s Fabio Wardley was elevated as the new WBO champion.
But Usyk has vowed to unify all four major titles again in the future, telling the WBC convention: “Some people are saying I’m not undisputed champion anymore. Well, that is only temporary.”
Oleksandr Usyk has remained quiet since his last win back in August.
That victory made Usyk history’s first-ever two-time undisputed champion in the four-belt era as he reclaimed the IBF belt he had to vacate in order to honour his rematch with Tyson Fury in December 2024.
That night he got his second win over ‘The Gypsy King’, having become undisputed champion for the first time after the first with in April of the same year.
He has also twice beaten Anthony Joshua and stopped Daniel Dubois on both times he met the Brit, so many think there are few challengers in the boxing ring left, especially as he is also a former Olympic Gold medallist and undisputed cruiserweight champion.
“The team is working on it. I think manager Egis Klimas will share something interesting with you soon. I’ll say this: in 2026 we will see Usyk in the ring again. Everything happens in its time.”
Fury had previously called for a trilogy fight, David Haye thinks Agit Kabayel would be a good opponent, and the fast-rising young British talent Moses Itauma has also declared himself ready to challenge the generational threat, though next time out will fight former Joshua and Dillian Whyte victim Jermaine Franklin in January.
Oleksandr Usyk’s Manager Reveals Reason For Vacating Heavyweight Title
Oleksandr Usyk is no longer the undisputed champion at heavyweight after vacating his WBO title in November. Now, the belt resides with Fabio Wardley, who held the interim version of the title.
Wardley claimed the interim WBO World Heavyweight title against Joseph Parker in October, with an 11th-round knockout in London. Now, the 30-year-old fighter from Britain can call himself a world champion.
The decision from Usyk means that he has lost his undisputed title, despite remaining undefeated. Now, the reason behind his decision has been revealed.
Serhii Lapin Reveals Why Oleksandr Usyk Vacated WBO Heavyweight Title
The WBO had ordered Oleksandr Usyk to defend his heavyweight crown against Joseph Parker earlier this year, after the Ukrainian defeated Daniel Dubois. However, Usyk was unable to compete at the time due to an injury.
Although Wardley likely would have been made a mandatory challenger for Usyk in 2026, this is not the reason the WBO title was vacated, according to Serhii Lapin.
Lapin is the director of Team Usyk and has spoken out on the multi-weight champion’s decision to give up one of his belts to Pro Boxing Fans.
“Oleksandr vacated the belt to give younger fighters the opportunity to box for it… We’ll see how things develop next.”
Serhii Lapin
Lapin gave no indication as to when Usyk may return, or whom the Ukrainian may face in his next outing.
New contenders for both Usyk and Wardley will be revealed in January. On January 10, Agit Kabayel will return to action in Germany, facing Damian Knyba.
Kabayel will be looking to retain his interim WBC World Heavyweight title, as well as improve his 26-0 unbeaten record. However, he will have to become the first man to defeat Knyba, who has a perfect 17-0 record.
Moses Itauma will also return to action in January, on the 24th of the month. Taking on Jermaine Franklin Jr., the 20-year-old will aim to continue his outstanding rise in the division.
In terms of other notable contenders, Daniel Dubois was scheduled to take on Frank Sanchez in an IBF heavyweight title eliminator. However, ‘DDD” has now withdrawn from the bout.
The heavyweight division will also welcome back Anthony Joshua in December, as ‘AJ’ is set to take on internet star Jake Paul in a professional bout on the 19th.
At the time of writing, there is no clear heavyweight pair who are set to face off next for a world title.
Stephan “Big Shot” Shaw demands attention in the heavyweight division: he wants real opportunities and a shot at the world title, starting with Oleksandr Usyk.
The 33-year-old spoke to World Boxing News exclusively after a video of him working Amazon delivery shifts went viral two weeks ago, spotlighting a fighter many in the US feel has been overlooked.
Shaw on the Wilder collapse
Shaw confirmed that talks for a fight with Deontay Wilder fell apart in March.
“I’m not aligned with the people that make big fights happen,” Shaw told WBN. “He didn’t want to fight me. They went with someone safer in Tyrell Herndon.
“I asked his team if he could give me an opportunity after the fight. They told me it would be a big fight and have to make financial sense for all of us, and I responded by saying that I couldn’t agree more.”
The fight never materialized, leaving Shaw sidelined despite his pedigree and proven skills.
Ambitions: Usyk, rematches, and top contenders
Asked to name some of the opponents he wants to target after the Wilder collapse, Shaw gave a surprisingly detailed list, showing how much attention he’s currently paying to the heavyweight climate.
“If I could choose? Oleksandr Usyk for the heavyweight championship of the world,” began Shaw, aiming at the very pinnacle of the sport.
“I have shown who I am, even to bounce back from my defeats. I would love a rematch with Joe Goodall and Efe Ajagba ASAP. They must be too afraid to get back in there with me.”
Giving his full wishlist, Shaw stated, “Joe Goodall, Efe Ajagba, Anthony Joshua, Jared Anderson, Jermaine Franklin, Brandon Moore, Andrii Novytskyi, Jarrell Miller, Michael Hunter, Andy Ruiz, Guido Vianello, Richard Torrez. To throw names out there.”
Frustration with US support
Despite US fans crying out for a new top-tier hero as Wilder prepares for retirement, Shaw admits he is disillusioned with the support.
“The American public doesn’t stick by their fighters like international fighters and their fans. A guy like Derek Chisora, who’s 40+ with 10+ losses (multiple KO losses), can still be beloved and appreciated from his country.”
Why Shaw shouldn’t be on the shelf
Shaw is 21-2 (16 KOs) with a 76% knockout rate, standing 6’4″ with an 81-inch reach. He has 88 professional rounds under his belt, and last fought April 12, 2025, stopping Raphael Akpejiori in the first round at Maryland Live Casino in Hanover.
Currently, Shaw is ranked 41 by BoxRec and number five in the US, and despite signing with ProBox on a three-fight deal, only one has come to fruition, leaving one of America’s most naturally talented heavyweights inactive at a critical stage of his career.
WBN believes Shaw is far too talented to remain inactive, especially given his elite amateur pedigree, professional record, and willingness to face the very best in the division.
With Shaw openly calling out Usyk, pressing for rematches, listing a dozen top contenders, and demanding activity, the message is simple:
He is ready. He wants big names. And the heavyweight division can no longer ignore him.
Anthony Joshua shocks fans with Oleksandr Usyk link-up ahead of Jake Paul showdown
Anthony Joshua has surprised fans after confirming that he will be preparing with Oleksandr Usyk’s team for his next fight.
Since splitting with long-time head coach Rob McCracken after his first loss to Usyk back in 2021, Joshua has bounced around camps. He worked with Robert Garcia and Derrick James, before a brief link-up with Ben Davison that he appears to have finished after being knocked out by Daniel Dubois.
Now as he prepares to face Jake Paul in Miami, Joshua claims to have linked with his great rival’s team, albeit without the input of Usyk himself. The pair have appeared friendly whenever they have met, but they aren’t actually teaming up and the Ukrainian is not currently with Joshua in camp.
Anthony Joshua joins up with Oleksandr Usyk’s team for Jake Paul fight
On Friday afternoon, Anthony Joshua came head-to-head with Jake Paul for the first time since their Netflix super-fight was announced on Monday. The pair looked comically mismatched in terms of size, but stayed relatively respectful of one another in the build-up.
Aside from the face-off itself, it was not a particularly noteworthy press conference as the pair refused to engage in the trappings of trash talk that usually come with these sorts of events. However, Joshua did drop a bombshell when asked by host Ariel Helwani who would be in his corner for the fight.
He revealed that he had been spending time working with Oleksandr Usyk’s team, albeit away from his old rival who recently dropped his WBO belt and lost undisputed status on a technicality.
“I was invited to train with Team Usyk,” Joshua told Helwani. “We’ve been doing some good training. He’s one of the best in the world. Getting an insight to how someone who’s achieved so much has been phenomenal. It’s been a great experience and it’s very challenging.”
Fans confused by Anthony Joshua’s exciting Usyk team news
Many fans have taken to social media to voice their confusion at the idea that Joshua is pulling out all the stops in order to prepare for a challenge like Paul. He noted that he finds too many distractions in London, and has as such gone international again.
“Trained by team usyk to fight Jake Paul… what a circus,” one fan wrote on Instagram, with another adding on X: “Yeah! Because you need an unbeaten champion to train with to ensure you beat the money man.”
Many fans noted that Joshua was already at a massive advantage given his size and world level experience. But they now feel he has an unassailable lead over Paul, writing: “Jake was already dead, but now he dead-dead.”
Another comical fan claimed that Usyk didn’t want his wins over Joshua to age poorly by him losing to Paul. “Usyk & his team were like ‘yeah you’re not f—ing this up & giving boxers a bad name we’re gonna help you’,” they wrote.
Tyson Fury’s chances of fighting Oleksandr Usyk have been boosted by the Ukrainian’s decision to give up one of his belts.
Former two-time heavyweight champion Fury announced his shock retirement from the sport back in January following back-to-back defeats to the Ukrainian. Just weeks after hanging up the gloves, the ‘Gypsy King’ posted clips of him returning to training – hinting at a potential comeback.
Fury’s sabbatical seemingly ended back in July after he confirmed he would be making a sensational return to the squared-circle next year. That said, he has since sent out rather mixed signals after he recently stated that not even a £1billion pay day would tempt him into a comeback.
Warren said: “The fight he really wants is another go with Mr. Usyk, he really wants that. And they were great fights, really close fights, to watch. I’d watch that again. That’s the fight he wants. That’s the one he talks about all the time.” And the ‘Gypsy King’ could find himself in a position where he could walk into an immediate fight with his rival.
Earlier this week, Fabio Wardley was crowned the new WBO heavyweight champion after Usyk gave up his belt. The Brit stopped Joseph Parker in the 11th round of their epic dust-up last month to become interim WBO champion. The Ukrainian behemoth had already been ordered to defend his four belts against the Ipswich native, but Wardley has now been elevated to full champion.
Following the news, Usyk now seemingly has no obligations he must fulfil in the near future – which frees up a potential third fight with Fury should he decide to perform a major U-turn. Earlier this year, the 37-year-old was quick to throw his hat in the ring to fight the two-time undisputed heavyweight champion.
Reacting to Usyk’s win over Daniel Dubois back in July, Fury said: “Massive shout out to Oleksandr Usyk. He did a fantastic performance tonight over Daniel Dubois, a good, young, game lad who came for a good tear, so congratulations to both men but Oleksandr Usyk knows there is only one man who can beat him.
“I did it twice before and the world knows it. I have been f***** good and proper. I took it like a man and here is me, not f****** around at some boxing match, I am out on the road running. I am running tonight. I came home, I did my job and I got myself back and I am the man. I am the f****** spartan and no matter what anyone wants to say, I won those fights. Guaranteed, 100 per cent. There is only one man. GK (Gypsy King) all day every day. Get up!”
Oleksandr Usyk gave up a world title, now there is only one fight left
At the age of 38, Oleksandr Usyk has already assured himself of a place in boxing’s Hall of Fame.
The brilliant Ukrainian (24-0) has been peerless at every level during a career which has showcased his staggering brilliance at every turn.
A 335-15 amateur record, topped off by Olympic gold at London 2012, undisputed world champion at cruiserweight after turning professional and now undisputed twice at heavyweight.
So when Usyk vacated his WBO world title on Monday, passing it on to Britain’s fairytale fighter Fabio Wardley, he did so having earned the right to plot his next move. One which could be his last as an active fighter.
There are those who still say Usyk is not proven at heavyweight, yet he has defeated Tyson Fury twice, Anthony Joshua twice and Daniel Dubois twice. Among others. He has been the ultimate road warrior, repelling not just elite fighters but also hostile home crowds.
So with time surely running out on an incredible career, what summits are left for Usyk to scale? In our opinion, only one.
Mercifully the talk of Oleksandr facing Jake Paul in a crossover fight (this was a thing back in the summer) appear to have gone away, with the aforementioned Joshua taking on that assignment in Miami next month..
Next fight for Usyk
What about a trilogy fight against Fury? Not for us, we remember the rematch in December 2024 where Usyk was a more clear-cut winner than he had been in their first meeting. Whatever size and ring savvy Fury had, it was not enough. Usyk was just better.
The rest of the heavyweight division right now is comprised of fighters just below that elite box office level, and these guys are called prizefighters for a reason. Usyk surely decided against a mandatory defence of that WBO title because Joseph Parker and then Wardley will not produce the PPV blockbuster that his stature now demands.
Usyk deserves the right to call the shots from here on in, and there is only one which would really set the pulses racing, one which would surely demand that Oleksandr rocks up with maximum focus and in perfect shape. Enter Moses Itauma.
Why it has to be Moses Itauma
The 20-year-old Itauma is the one heavyweight feared by all in the sport’s marquee weight class right now – even if his rivals won’t all publicly admit it.
The young sensation from Chatham in Kent has raced to 13-0 with 11 wins inside two rounds – a resume packed with highlight-reel finishes. None better than his last outing, that one-round demolition job on former world title challenger Dillian Whyte.
Itauma’s breathtaking cocktail of speed, power and ring savvy are incredible for one so young – and right now they appear to be the only true threat to the mighty Usyk.
Saudi power broker Turki Alalshikh summed it up in July, when in the immediate aftermath of Usyk’s win over Dubois, he said: “I want to see Usyk against Itauma. This is the fight”. And so say all of us.
A Usyk vs Itauma fight would be a global spectacular – the brilliant established grand master against the devastating young challenger. Experience vs youth, balletic brilliance vs devastating power. A match for both the connoisseur and the casual.
It is our firm belief that Itauma right now would start favourite against any heavyweight who is not named Usyk or Fury, and a showdown with Fury appears unlikely with ‘The Gypsy King’ holding no world titles right now.
So Usyk vs Itauma is the dream, the one fight that Oleksandr can now take on which would arguably lift his reputation even higher. Beating Fury or Joshua again, or any of those other pretenders, not so much.
The fact Fury and Joshua appear to be getting in position to settle their all-British rivalry at long last at some stage in 2026 just makes the way forward for Usyk even more clear. Not only does it make sense on every level, the pathway is open.
The only reason not to do this for Usyk is danger – any other heavyweight aside from Itauma carries a lower risk. A lower risk of defeat, and a lower risk of getting hurt.
But Usyk is the ultimate fighting man, a boxing great who has ducked no challenges, instead accepted every one sent his way. In any land, at any weight, in front of any crowd.
As Oleksandr prepares to sail off into the boxing sunset to deservedly enjoy the spoils of his success with his family, there is just one mountain left which is worthy of his ascent. One summit to reach, one rival to repel.
Usyk vs Itauma, in 2026. As Turki Alalshikh so rightly said, “this is the fight”.
‘Real Reason’ Why Oleksandr Usyk Gave Up His WBO Heavyweight Title Revealed
Oleksandr Usyk shocked the boxing world by relinquishing his WBO heavyweight championship on Monday evening. The decision to give up the title ended Usyk’s second reign as undisputed heavyweight champion, which began when he knocked out Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in July to add the IBF version of the heavyweight crown to the WBA, WBC and WBO titles that he was already in possession of.
The Ukrainian’s decision was confirmed by the WBO in a statement, with Usyk yet to comment on his reasons for dumping the gold. However, the situation led to good news for Britain’s Fabio Wardley.
Within minutes of it emerging that Usyk was giving up the title, interim WBO heavyweight titleholder Wardley was promoted to full champion. The Ipswich slugger had already earned the opportunity to challenge for the belt after stopping fellow top contender Joseph Parker in controversial fashion last month. However, Wardley, who is unbeaten in 21 fights and has 19 knockout wins, now won’t have to fight to earn the gold.
The WBA statement annoucing Usyk’s decision read:
“The World Boxing Organisation announced today that it has received formal communication from Team Oleksandr Usyk regarding the future of the WBO Heavyweight Championship. After thoughtful consideration, Usyk has elected to relinquish his title. We accept and respect his decision to relinquish the WBO Heavyweight Super Championship. This is not a farewell, but — as expressed by his team — a respectful pause. The doors of the WBO will always remain open to Oleksandr Usyk and his team.”
The governing body went out of their way to insist that there was no ill will towards Usyk after he voluntarily surrendered the belt. There was, though, nothing in the way of an explanation as to why the call had been made.
Why Oleksandr Usyk Really Gave Up WBO Heavyweight Championship
Amid much speculation, Sky Sports Boxing reporter Andy Scott rubbished speculation that Usyk had given up the gold in order to duck Wardley, before explaining what the true motivation likely was behind the decision.
“He [Usyk] hasn’t come out yet and given a reason why he has vacated that belt. He’s been nursing this back injury, hasn’t he, which caused a lot of debate online because he likes a party […] And there were a couple of people who raised an eyebrow and said, ‘Is that really a man who has a back injury and is that the reason he didn’t fight Wardley?’ But there are also people who are calling it a duck from Usyk.
“But can we just be real for a second? The guy has been to everybody’s backyard, fought every single fighter that he could, and never shied away from a contest. I don’t think Oleksandr Usyk is ducking or running away from Fabio Wardley.”
Scott continued: “I would suspect that he doesn’t want to dance to the tune of the governing bodies who have put a time span on things. What is he now, 38? When we all get to that age, the back’s a bit sorer isn’t it, and he probably wants more time to recover, and he wants to plot his own course out of the sport.”
Last month, Usyk suggested that he would like to remain active until his 41st birthday, which is in January 2028. ‘The Cat’ has frequently spoken about his desire to face Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua in a trilogy fight – or potentially even meet Jake Paul in an MMA bout. While his future plans are unclear, it seems as though the former undisputed cruiserweight champion is now only interested in big fights as he “plots his own course” to retirement in just over two-and-a half years.
Oleksandr Usyk Makes Final Decision On Whether He Will Defend Or Relinquish His WBO Title
Oleksandr Usyk has made a final decision on whether he will be defending his WBO heavyweight title against mandatory challenger Fabio Wardley next.
The 38-year-old Ukrainian superstar has had an exceptional campaign at heavyweight, becoming the first fighter of the ‘four belt era’ to win the undisputed championship on two separate occasions.
Usyk cemented himself as arguably the best heavyweight of his entire generation in July when he stopped Britain’s Daniel Dubois in the 5th round of their historic showdown at Wembley Stadium.
It had been suggested that the Ukrainian great could return to the ring to defend his undisputed championship against Fabio Wardley, who became the WBO mandatory challenger when he defeated Joseph Parker last month.
As revealed by the World Boxing Organization on Monday evening, Usyk has actually decided to relinquish his world title to bring an end to his reign as the undisputed heavyweight champion.
“The World Boxing Organization (WBO) announced today that it has received formal communication from Team Oleksandr Usyk regarding the future of the WBO Heavyweight Championship. After thoughtful consideration, Usyk has elected to relinquish the title.”
This decision means that Wardley has been elevated to full WBO world champion, which was confirmed by the Brit’s promoter Frank Warren shortly after the WBO statement was released.
Britain has a new heavyweight world champion and a new star of the sport.
One of the most incredible stories I’ve seen in my 45 years as a promoter and I could not be prouder of @FabioWardley.
Some huge fights ahead for 2026 as he defends his WBO belt and creates a true legacy… pic.twitter.com/XYapl0vs9n
It has been quite the journey for Ipswich’s Wardley, who made his professional debut back in 2017 without having a single amateur contest. The 30-year-old had just a handful of white collar bouts before entering the paid ranks, where he has defeated the likes of Justis Huni, David Adeleye and Joseph Parker last time out.
Oleksandr Usyk quietly plots his next move, with numerous top contenders vying for their shot to share the ring with him.
The great Ukrainian became undisputed in the heavyweight division for a second time earlier this year when he knocked Daniel Dubois out at Wembley Stadium.
He now has a mandatory challenger in Fabio Wardley to face, as well as WBC Interim Champion Agit Kabayel waiting in the wings. Whilst Usyk has remained relatively tight-lipped on his next move, he has made it clear he is likely to fight again.
As the top contenders make their case for a shot at the throne, former three-belt champion Andy Ruiz Jr has joined the charge. In fact, speaking to Covers, Ruiz revealed that the undisputed Ukrainian recently messaged him saying he was open to a fight if things aligned.
“Maybe like a few weeks ago, I was messaging Usyk. I guess he sent me a message or something. I was like, ‘Hey, much love, brother. I would love to get in the ring with you. It would be a pleasure.’ And then he was like, “In God’s timing, we will do it. We will run it up.” And I was like, “‘Oh, snap.’”
‘The Destroyer’s career highlight remains a shock win over Anthony Joshua in 2019 to become unified champion. He would lose those belts in the rematch six months later, and must find form and convince fans of his remaining potential before being mentioned alongside Usyk. Recent hand surgery and a link-up with former trainer Manny Robles seem to have him motivated.
