Unified heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk has named Deontay Wilder as the “first option” for his next fight.
The Ukrainian stopped Londoner Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in July to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion.
Usyk, 38, then vacated his WBO belt, with Britain’s Fabio Wardley upgraded from ‘interim’ to full champion.
“I 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 division’s most feared puncher, has struggled since his trilogy with Tyson Fury.
The American’s stock plummeted after back-to-back stoppage defeats by Joseph Parker in 2023 and Zhilei Zhang in 2024.
After more than a year out, Wilder, 40, returned in June with a low-key seventh-round stoppage of little-known Tyrrell Anthony Herndon.
Despite that decline, Usyk still views ‘The Bronze Bomber’ as a marquee name.
“He is a world champion guy. A very famous and strong guy,” Usyk said.
“One of the great heavyweights of the last 10 years. I spoke with my team and said he is the first option.”
