{"id":311864,"date":"2025-12-12T10:24:07","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T10:24:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/311864\/"},"modified":"2025-12-12T10:24:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T10:24:07","slug":"deontay-wilder-names-the-heavyweight-he-wants-to-fight-before-challenging-oleksandr-usyk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/311864\/","title":{"rendered":"Deontay Wilder names the heavyweight he wants to fight before challenging Oleksandr Usyk"},"content":{"rendered":"

Deontay Wilder<\/a> revealed this week that he is now officially in negotiations with unified world heavyweight champion, Oleksandr Usyk<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018The Bronze Bomber\u2019 \u2014 once a long-reigning and undefeated WBC Champion \u2014 was handed his first defeat by Tyson Fury back in 2020 and has since registered just two wins in five fights over a period with large bursts of inactivity.<\/p>\n

Defeats to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang in 2023 and 2024 respectively left many feeling that the knockout artist from Alabama was set to call time on his campaign at 40-years-old, however he confirmed his decision to fight on with a comeback win over Tyrell Herndon.<\/p>\n

An out of the blue callout from Usyk<\/a>, who holds the WBC, IBF and WBA titles, gives Wilder a major boost at this late stage in his career. Herndon, however, is no preparation for the undefeated southpaw.<\/p>\n

In Dubai recently, Wilder faced off with former Usyk opponent Derek Chisora. After things got heated and there was some pushing and shoving, the American told ES News<\/a> he was now considering facing \u2018Del Boy\u2019 in prep for Usyk.<\/p>\n

\u201cDerek Chisora, you want it, you can get it. That\u2019s for sure. That might be my warm-up fight. I\u2019ll see what people think about that. We were supposed to fight years ago, and I got in some legal trouble and it meant I couldn\u2019t travel. It was supposed to happen and it didn\u2019t happen, and this opportunity means it can happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chisora is currently in the market for his 50th opponent, ranked well with the IBF and looking to leave the sport with a bang. Recent talks with Dillian Whyte for a trilogy bout fell through<\/a> \u2014 though may be revisited \u2014 and many would fancy his chances against Wilder given their current form.<\/p>\n

Fight 50. Deontay Wilder \ud83d\udca5 @IBA_Pro_Boxing<\/a>#warchisora<\/a>pic.twitter.com\/ZDmfgRNtDH<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Derek Chisora \ud83e\udd4a (@DerekWarChisora) December 11, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n