“American Deontay Wilder will be the opponent of the Ukrainian boxer”, — write: sport.ua
This was reported on the official website of the World Boxing Council based on the results of the rating committee meeting held as part of the 63rd WBC Congress in Thailand.
The representative of Ukraine announced that in the next match he will meet with the former world champion, the American Deontay Wilder (44–3–1, 43 KOs). After this confrontation, Usyk will hold a mandatory title defense against Lawrence Okoli or Moses Itauma.
British boxers will meet in the ring at the beginning of 2026 to determine the mandatory contender for the WBC champion from Ukraine. Oleksandr also holds the WBA and IBF titles, but these organizations have agreed to wait until Usyk has two fights under the auspices of the World Boxing Council.
Wilder knocked out compatriot Tyrell Herndon in June to snap a two-fight losing streak in 2023 and 2024. Usyk last entered the ring in July, when he stopped the British Daniel Dubois.