Unified world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has named Deontay Wilder as the “first choice” for his next fight.
The Ukrainian stopped Londoner Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in July to become two-time undisputed heavyweight champion.
Usyk, 38, then vacated his WBO belt, and Britain’s Fabio Wardley went from ‘interim’ champion to absolute champion.
“I will continue fighting next year. I want to fight Deontay Wilder. I think it’s interesting,” he told Boxing King Media.
Wilder, a former WBC world champion and once the most feared puncher in the division, has struggled since his trilogy with Tyson Fury.
The American’s stock plummeted after consecutive losses to Joseph Parker in 2023 and Zhilei Zhang in 2024.
After more than a year away, Wilder, 40, returned in June with a discreet seventh-round knockout of little-known Tyrrell Anthony Herndon.
Despite that decline, Usyk still sees ‘The Bronze Bomber’ as an iconic name.
“He’s a world champion. A very famous and strong guy,” Usyk said.
“One of the big heavyweights of the last 10 years. I spoke to my team and said he is the first option.”
