World heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk appears almost certain to face American big hitter Deontay Wilder in his next fight.
Usyk (now 24-0 as a pro) has been out of action since July, when he dismantled Daniel Dubois to become undisputed heavyweight champion for a second time.
After beating both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua twice – as well as Dubois twice – Usyk has plumped for what perhaps might be the biggest financial upside and the smallest risk for his next assignment. And at least the spectre of a potential showdown with Jake Paul appears to be off the radar.
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The 40-year-old Wilder was once the most feared puncher in the sport and remains something of a draw Stateside, but he has looked very much a fading force in recent fights. He was convincingly handled by Joseph Parker in December 2023 and Zhilei Zhang in the summer of 2024. Right now he would start a heavy underdog vs Usyk.
Egis Klimas on Usyk next fight
Usyk’s manager Egis Klimas says talks are progressing about a potential 2026 showdown, and that dates and venues are also being discussed.
Klimas told The National: “It’s very likely [Usyk vs Wilder]. Because right now we’re working on it, and we’re working on some multi-fight agreement for Oleksandr.
“As soon as we’re going to confirm that, we’re going to jump in. And some talks already are going on with the team of Wilder. We’re looking at Las Vegas or Los Angeles, and dates are the end of April, beginning of May.
“Wilder is one of the best names Oleksandr didn’t face yet. He’s still in good shape, and he’s still a fighter, so he’s interesting. And as well, it’s the United States.”
Usyk and Saudis, the latest
There is one other surprising aspect to the Usyk vs Wilder hype – the bout will likely not be fought under the Riyadh Season banner. All of Usyk’s most recent fights have been bankrolled by the Saudis.
Klimas revealed: “No, actually, that’s a different group from the United States. It’s not official yet, so I cannot tell you”.
While it appears the Usyk/Riyadh Season partnership appears to be off for now, Klimas would not rule out that relationship being rekindled at some stage.
“I cannot say that he’s not going to be fighting in the Riyadh Season. He might be fighting in the Riyadh Season, but as far as right now, we don’t have any offers or anything like that from them.”
