Oleksandr Usyk: Deonte Wilder 'first option' for next fight

Former WBC world champion Deontay Wilder is No. 1 on unified heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk's list of potential opponents when the Ukrainian returns to the ring in 2026.

Usyk, 38, defeated Daniel Dubois of Great Britain in London in July to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champ, then vacated his WBO belt, with Great Britain's Fabio Wardley upgraded to full WBO champion.

Usyk, who plans to fight for two more years, still holds the WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight titles.

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

Since losing a trilogy to Tyson Fury, the 40-year-old Wilder has seen his career hit a few more bumps in the road, including consecutive losses to Joseph Parker in 2023 and Zhilei Zhang last year. Wilder was away from the ring for more than a year, then defeated Tyrrell Anthony Herndon via TKO in June.

"He is a world champion guy. A very famous and strong guy," Usyk said of Wilder. "One of the great heavyweights of the last 10 years. I spoke with my team and said he is the first option."

--Field Level Media