Oleksandr Usyk’s ‘goodbye’ fight gets an exciting new turn as Deontay Wilder’s plan comes into play.
Oleksandr Usyk might finish his amazing boxing career with a farewell fight against former heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder.
Last month, Usyk shared that he’s giving up his WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight titles before what he calls his “last dance.” At 39, he gave this update after a tough match with kickboxing champ Rico Verhoeven, and had plans to fight WBC interim champ Agit Kabayel.
But now, Usyk has dropped plans to face Kabayel and is hoping for a final fight against Wilder in the U.S.
“Usyk has said he wants Deontay Wilder as his last opponent,” said Sergey Lapin, Usyk’s team director, to BBC Sport. “This fight would be huge from a sports, media, and global point of view.”
Usyk, known as one of the best fighters of his generation with an unbeaten record in 25 pro fights, has never faced Wilder before, which makes this potential fight very exciting.
Wilder, a former heavyweight champ, was once known as the hardest hitter in boxing. He’s won 45 out of 50 fights and recently beat Derek Chisora in April by split decision. Though 40 years old and past his prime, Wilder’s manager, Shelly Finkel, says Wilder would jump at the chance to fight Usyk.
“If Usyk offers a fight, Deontay would take it,” Finkel said.
There’s talk that Zuffa Boxing, linked to UFC president Dana White, could promote the fight, as Dana is eager to bring attention to boxing’s top fighters.
Lapin added, “We’re talking directly with Zuffa Boxing, but no deal is signed yet. They might be a partner for this big international event. The final plan will focus on what’s best for the fight, the fighters, and the event’s size.”
Usyk has beaten many of boxing’s top heavyweights, including Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Daniel Dubois twice each. The legendary southpaw sees a fight with Wilder as a way to strengthen his legacy, already saying Wilder is the opponent he wants.
“I want to fight Deontay Wilder. I think it’s an interesting match,” Usyk said in December 2025. “He’s a world champ, very famous, and strong. He’s one of the best heavyweights of the last decade.”
This fight has been talked about for a while. Wilder confirmed in the same month that talks were happening between his team and Usyk’s.
“It’s definitely becoming a real conversation. Boxing is business — sometimes talks work out, sometimes they don’t,” Wilder said. “Hopefully, we get this great fight. It would give us amazing memories. We’re definitely talking now, and I’m excited and looking forward to it.”