{"id":695084,"date":"2026-07-16T15:58:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T15:58:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/695084\/"},"modified":"2026-07-16T15:58:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T15:58:09","slug":"carl-froch-delivers-honest-verdict-on-oleksandr-usyk-facing-deontay-wilder-for-his-final-fight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/695084\/","title":{"rendered":"Carl Froch delivers honest verdict on Oleksandr Usyk facing Deontay Wilder for his final fight"},"content":{"rendered":"

Carl Froch has assessed whether Deontay Wilder<\/a>, from both a financial and legacy perspective, is the right opponent for Oleksandr Usyk<\/a> at this stage of his illustrious career.<\/p>\n

The two heavyweights are in talks for a potential clash under Dana White\u2019s Zuffa Boxing banner<\/a>, with Usyk having vacated his WBC, IBF and WBA world titles.<\/p>\n

This announcement came around a month after his encounter with Rico Verhoeven, who gave a surprisingly strong account of himself when they collided in May.<\/p>\n

In the end, Usyk stopped the former kickboxing champion in round 11, but was made to work exceptionally hard to emerge victorious.<\/p>\n

Perhaps realising that he is no longer the formidable force of old, the 39-year-old has since relinquished his belts and declared that he only has one fight left.<\/p>\n

In terms of possible opponents, Wilder is seemingly the frontrunner, with the former WBC champion coming off a split decision victory over Derek Chisora<\/a> in April.<\/p>\n

Having previously scored two respective victories over Tyson Fury<\/a> and Anthony Joshua<\/a>, Usyk is yet to face the American, who would afford him the opportunity to enhance his supremacy as a modern heavyweight great.<\/p>\n

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Froch On Fighting<\/a>, the Hall of Famer expressed no qualms about a showdown between Usyk and the 40-year-old Wilder.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Wilder\u2019s] a big name, and he didn\u2019t look bad against Chisora. I know Chisora and Wilder are both pretty much finished, but Wilder looked all right.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat would be a legacy fight for Oleksandr Usyk to finish [his career and] make a right few quid. He\u2019ll make tens of millions for a fight that, really, he\u2019s going to be a massive favourite for.\u201d<\/p>\n

By vacating his WBC title, Usyk has avoided a mandated contest with Agit Kabayel and, in effect, elevated the likelihood of a Wilder fight.<\/p>\n