### Usyk Drops Fury Bombshell: Eyes Explosive Clash with Wilder in 2026 Heavyweight Showdown
In a move that’s rippling through the heavyweight division like a seismic aftershock, Oleksandr Usyk has thrown a curveball at the boxing world. The Ukrainian maestro, fresh off cementing his legacy as a two-time undisputed champion, has publicly dismissed the prospect of a third showdown with Tyson Fury.
Instead, he’s zeroed in on Deontay Wilder—the Bronze Bomber himself—as his next target. Speaking at the WBC convention in Thailand, Usyk didn’t mince words: “I want to fight Deontay Wilder. For me, I think it is very interesting.
He is a world champion guy, a very famous and strong guy, one of the greatest heavyweight fighters of the last 10 years.” It’s a statement that’s equal parts bold and calculated, signaling Usyk’s intent to chase fresh fireworks rather than rehash old rivalries.
Usyk’s journey to this crossroads has been nothing short of epic. The 38-year-old southpaw exploded onto the heavyweight scene after dominating the cruiserweight ranks, where he claimed undisputed glory in 2018.
His heavyweight ascent began with back-to-back masterclasses against Anthony Joshua in 2021 and 2022, snatching the WBA, IBF, and WBO titles in the process. But it was his 2024 trilogy with Fury that truly etched his name in stone.
In May, Usyk outboxed the towering Brit in Riyadh, becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champ since Lennox Lewis in 2000.
Fury, gracious in defeat, invoked his rematch clause, leading to a December 2024 sequel where Usyk again prevailed, this time by majority decision after a grueling war that saw both men hit the canvas.
Those victories came at a cost, however. To honor the Fury rematch, Usyk surrendered his IBF belt earlier this year, allowing mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic to step up before Usyk reclaimed it with a demolition of Daniel Dubois in July.
Dubois, the IBF’s interim king, fell in the ninth round of their Wembley rematch—a vicious knockout that reaffirmed Usyk’s technical wizardry and iron chin. Yet, with the WBO belt now vacated in favor of Fabio Wardley just weeks ago, Usyk holds the WBA, WBC, IBF, IBO, and The Ring titles.
At 24-0 with 15 knockouts, he’s a walking testament to precision over power. But retirement whispers have swirled; Usyk has hinted at hanging up the gloves after two more bouts, making his choices all the more pivotal.
Enter Deontay Wilder, the 39-year-old Alabama knockout artist whose right hand once terrorized the division. Wilder’s resume reads like a highlight reel of destruction: 43 knockouts in 47 wins, including a decade-long reign as WBC champion from 2015 to 2020.
He dethroned Bermane Stiverne with a 12th-round stoppage, then defended the strap 10 times, flattening foes like Dominic Breazeale and Luis Ortiz with that signature bomb. His power was mythic—42 of his first 43 victories ended inside the distance, earning him the moniker “Bronze Bomber” for his unyielding aggression.
Fans tuned in not just for the wins, but for the spectacle: Wilder’s wild entrances, his trash-talking flair, and those moments when his haymakers connected like thunderclaps.
But glory faded into grit for Wilder. His trilogy with Fury— a controversial draw in 2018, followed by two bruising losses in 2020 and 2021—exposed vulnerabilities.
A seventh-round KO in the finale left him battered, and subsequent defeats to Joseph Parker in 2023 and Zhilei Zhang in 2024 painted a portrait of a warrior past his prime.
At 44-4-1, Wilder’s last outing was a routine seventh-round TKO of journeyman Tyrrell Anthony Herndon in June 2025, a tune-up that sparked talk of redemption. “If Usyk is still around when the time comes, it’s a no-brainer,” Wilder said back then, his eyes gleaming with unfinished business.
So why Wilder now, over Fury’s trilogy lure? Usyk’s camp sees it as a stylistic symphony waiting to unfold. Fury, at 6’9″ with his elusive footwork and jab, tested Usyk’s adaptability across two epics.
Wilder, though shorter at 6’7″, brings raw, one-punch apocalypse—42 KOs that could end nights in a blink. “It’s a fresh challenge, a new style, and a level of intrigue that Fury no longer offers,” one insider close to Team Usyk told reporters.
The Ukrainian craves activity in 2026, eyeing a Riyadh return under Turki Alalshikh’s promotional umbrella, which has bankrolled over $2 billion in boxing spectacles.
A Usyk-Wilder clash could headline there, pitting Usyk’s slick angles against Wilder’s explosive bursts, potentially drawing 1.5 million pay-per-view buys if history rhymes with the Fury fights.
The boxing fraternity is buzzing. On Reddit’s r/Boxing, fans debate fiercely: “Prime Wilder floors Fury twice—Usyk’s in trouble,” one argues, while another counters, “Usyk’s too slippery; Wilder’s chin’s glass now.” Promoters are salivating. Wilder’s co-manager, Shelly Finkel, fired back swiftly: “Usyk is a great champion.
We have plans for next year and we’d like Oleksandr Usyk to be part of them.” Fury, meanwhile, stewed in silence, his camp hinting at mandatory obligations or a pivot to Francis Ngannou rematch.
But for the Gypsy King, sidelined by a sparring injury since the loss, this snub stings—Usyk’s two triumphs already dented his aura, and a trilogy denial feels like salt in the wound.
Broader implications loom large. This fight could redefine legacies: For Usyk, a win over Wilder’s power cements him as the division’s untouchable tactician, bridging cruiserweight finesse with heavyweight brutality.
For Wilder, it’s resurrection or retirement—a shot at titles he once owned, against a foe who embodies everything he couldn’t conquer in Fury. In a sport starved for superfights amid rising stars like Moses Itauma and Fabio Wardley, Usyk-Wilder injects urgency.
Wardley, the new WBO champ, eyes Usyk down the line, but the Ukrainian’s disinterest—”not interested right now”—clears the path.
As 2025 closes, the heavyweight landscape feels electric. Usyk, ever the chess master, has moved his pawn to queen. Wilder, the cannon waiting to fire, stands ready.
Will the Bomber’s bomb connect, or will Usyk dance through the storm? One thing’s certain: In 2026, Riyadh’s sands will witness poetry in punches, and the boxing world will hold its breath. This isn’t just a fight—it’s the spark that could ignite the decade’s defining rivalry.
