Why would Usyk want to fight Wilder?

[Master]

Unified heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk has named Deontay Wilder as the "first option" for his next fight.

"I continue fighting next year. I want to fight Deontay Wilder. I think it's interesting," he told Boxing King Media.

The American's stock plummeted after back-to-back stoppage defeats by Joseph Parker in 2023 and Zhilei Zhang in 2024.

After more than a year out, Wilder, 40, returned in June with a low-key seventh-round stoppage of little-known Tyrrell Anthony Herndon.

Despite that decline, Usyk still views 'The Bronze Bomber' as a marquee name.

"He is a world champion guy. A very famous and strong guy," Usyk said.

"One of the great heavyweights of the last 10 years. I spoke with my team and said he is the first option."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/a...s/cx2e64dyxe3o

[Master]

Usyk has since vacated his WBO belt, elevating Wardley to world champion in the process. Usyk has confirmed he was interested in facing Parker but has not ruled out a future fight with Wardley.

"A win for Parker, for me it's interesting - a win for Wardley was for me not interesting," said Usyk. "Maybe later we fight together, a big fight.

"I really respect this guy because he's done a lot of work with his body and his team, training all the time. I think it's great."

Usyk is keen to win back his WBO belt, vowing to unify all four major titles again in the future.

He added: "Some people are saying I'm not undisputed champion anymore. Well, that is only temporary."

https://uk.yahoo.com/news/deontay-wi...084738352.html

[TIC]

easy money, easy win over one of the bigger heavyweight names in recent history

[Master]

All true but no way should he get a pass for this fight. Usyk should face Kabayal, Wardley or even Itauma. Usyk fights infrequently to be allowed an easy fight. He’s better than this contest.

[X]

Easy one this ……

Usyk has fought every great and good heavyweight around. Wilder - rightly or wrongly - was one of the most feared fighters of the past decade. Shattering windmill punch power and name recognition that carries outside boxing circles. Getting Wilders name on his resume makes perfect sense.

Deontay is about 6’7” too. He will always have the equaliser which will keep eyes on screens.

Plus Wilder is pretty much shot now, and he was never much of a boxer in the first place.

id rather see Usyk fighting Wilder than Jake Paul.

This fight makes perfect sense for Oleksander.

[Spicoli]

Personally, crossing my fingers for a Butterbean comeback match up myself! One can only hope.

[Master]

Oleksandr Usyk has been granted the opportunity to make a voluntary defence of his WBC heavyweight title after saying he wanted to fight Deontay Wilder next.

Unified heavyweight champion Usyk said this week that Wilder was his "first option" for his next fight.

Wilder is not ranked in the WBA, WBC or IBF's top 10, meaning Usyk may have to vacate some of his titles to fight him.

But the WBC announced at their annual convention that they would not immediately call a mandatory defence for the Ukrainian for their belt, opening the door for a world title fight between the pair.

"Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk can make a voluntary defence. He's already said he would like to fight Deontay Wilder," a WBC statement said.

Usyk last fought in July when he stopped Londoner Daniel Dubois in round five to become two-time undisputed heavyweight champion.

But in November, the 38-year-old decided to relinquish his WBO title, elevating Britain's Fabio Wardley to heavyweight champion.

At the time, Usyk informed the WBO he would not be proceeding with a mandatory title defence against Wardley.

Usyk remains the WBA, IBF and WBC heavyweight champion.

The WBC also confirmed that a potential fight between British boxers Lawrence Okolie and Moses Itauma would determine the next mandatory challenger for the WBC belt.

Both fighters already have bouts scheduled, with Itauma fighting Jermaine Franklin on 24 January in Manchester and Okolie boxing in Nigeria later this month against a yet-to-be announced opponent.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/a...s/cz94yzlkq14o

[TIC]

just make the agit fight already, he's the interim champion

[Beanz]

Ha! Can imagine Fury will be spitting feathers.