Deontay Wilder on Oleksandr Usyk Fight: ‘It Can Happen And It Will Happen’

Deontay Wilder (44-4-1, 43 KOs) vs Derek Chisora (36-13, 23 KOs) is barely a day away. But there is one fight that still makes Wilder’s eyes glisten, a potential showdown against Oleksandr Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs).

In conversation with Sky Sports, Wilder seemed confident in potentially fighting Usyk and unifying the division.

“It can happen and it will happen. As long as I have the confidence to do what I have to do, it will happen. Unless he retires and if so that’s fine with me. I must accomplish what I set forth in the beginning of my career,” he said. “Why not make goals while you’re inside of the ring? I have. Unifying the division would be an overwhelming feeling for me. That’s something that I never had the opportunity to have.”

Usyk has publicly expressed interest in fighting Wilder and plans to continue boxing for a couple more years, with his team reportedly lining up negotiations for a bout in the U.S. in the spring or early summer as part of his final few fights. The fact that Usyk has sought and been granted the option to make a voluntary defense of his WBC title also adds a practical pathway toward making it a real fight. And add to this the fact that Wilder is now ranked in the top 10 and eligible to challenge, and the fight becomes a lot more possible.

And how confident is Wilder about the fight happening? He believes he’s just one victory away.

“I’m most definitely one win away. I hear a lot of things. I don’t keep up with too much. I hear he wants to fight me and then all of a sudden he doesn’t want to fight me. You really don’t know what to believe when you’re in the business of boxing,” he said.

“No Better Opponent”

In the meantime, he hasn’t forgotten his fight against Chisora. Talking during the same interview, he revealed that he couldn’t have chosen a better opponent.

“I’m looking forward to being dangerous at all times. It’s going to be a war. He’s going to feel my energy as I’m going to feel his energy. The first round is going to be very exciting,” he said. “It couldn’t be no better opponent to get me back where I need to be.”

Joshua Ben Joseph

Joshua Ben Joseph is a Boxing writer renowned for his unparalleled coverage of live events and insightful interviews with prominent athletes in the world of combat sports. With a career spanning over several years, he has authored more than 800 articles. As an experienced editorial cartoonist and investigative journalist, Joshua has a keen eye for detail and a passion for delivering quality content. Aside from his writing, Joshua is an avid powerlifter and solo traveler, embodying the same spirit of determination and exploration that he brings to his work. With a deep love for the sport of boxing that dates back to childhood, he is committed to delivering the highest quality content and helping to build a more transparent and credible industry.

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