Usyk Eyes Wilder Fight to Complete Rival Sweep

Oleksandr Usyk, the undisputed heavyweight boxing champion, has set his sights on a showdown with former WBC titleholder Deontay Wilder, aiming to cap a dominant run by defeating the last major unbeaten rival from his era. The 38-year-old Ukrainian, fresh off a fifth-round knockout of Daniel Dubois in July at Wembley Stadium before 90,000 fans, confirmed his interest during a recent interview, stating he plans to fight two or three more times before possibly retiring.

Usyk's pursuit of Wilder stems from a desire to complete a sweep of the division's top figures. Since moving up from cruiserweight in 2019, where he first became undisputed champion, Usyk has secured legacy-defining wins, including two victories each over Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. "In the big three, there were Joshua, Fury, and Wilder," Usyk said. "I beat Joshua twice, I beat Fury twice, and one unbeaten one remains Wilder." Promoter Eddie Hearn, who spoke with Usyk during a trip to Saudi Arabia, echoed this motivation, noting the fighter wants to face all key opponents from his generation, adding an honorable mention for Dubois, whom he has now beaten twice.

The potential bout carries significant intrigue,...