Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk says former WBC titlist Deontay Wilder is his “first option” for his next fight, calling the American one of the standout heavyweights of the past decade despite his recent decline.
Usyk, 38, became a two-time undisputed champion after stopping Daniel Dubois in July before vacating his WBO belt, allowing Britain’s Fabio Wardley to be elevated to champion. Wilder, 40, has struggled since his trilogy with Tyson Fury and suffered consecutive knockout losses to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang before returning with a modest win in June, but Usyk still views him as a marquee name for a voluntary defence.
With several mandatory challengers tied up in other bouts, a Wilder clash could be made quickly.
Usyk, who has beaten Fury, Joshua and Dubois, plans to fight for only two more years as he builds on a career that included becoming undisputed champion at cruiserweight before repeating the feat at heavyweight.
