Oleksandr Usyk plans to end his professional career with a mega-fight against Deontay Wilder in the US. This bout will be the culmination of the Ukrainian boxer’s career; he has not fought on the American circuit since 2019.
- Oleksandr Usyk is planning a farewell fight against Deontay Wilder.
- The fight will take place on the American market, where Usyk has not boxed since 2019.
- Usyk’s team is in talks with Zuffa Boxing to organise the fight.
- Wilder is ready to accept the fight if he receives an official offer.
- Usyk has vacated his championship titles to take part in a new project.
Oleksandr Usyk: his final fight in the American ring
Oleksandr Usyk, a 39-year-old Ukrainian boxer, plans to to end one’s career a high-profile bout in the American ring. His opponent will be Deontay Wilder, a former world champion whom Usyk has not yet faced in the ring. Usyk’s team director Sergey Lapin confirmed that talks are under way with the new promotional venture, Zuffa Boxing, to organise the fight.
«Usyk has already made it clear that he sees Deontay Wilder as the opponent for his “final dance”. This bout has enormous potential,» said Lapin.
The choice of Wilder as an opponent is no coincidence. Wilder, renowned for his knockouts, remains the only elite heavyweight whom Usyk has not yet faced. Following his victories over Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, the fight against Wilder will be the grand finale of the Ukrainian’s career.
Why the US?
The United States is seen as the most logical venue for this bout. It is a market capable of providing the largest possible audience for Usyk’s farewell fight, as he has not boxed in the US since 2019. Wilder’s manager, Shelley Finkel, confirmed that his client was ready for the fight:
«If Deontay is officially offered a fight against Usyk, he will accept it without hesitation.».
A revolution in boxing
Usyk’s team is in talks with Zuffa Boxing, a new and ambitious company seeking to transform the traditional boxing system. Zuffa Boxing, led by UFC President Dana White, plans to move away from traditional sanctioning bodies and create its own league. This decision fits perfectly with Usyk’s strategy, as he has vacated his titles in order to take part in a new global media project.
No contracts have been signed as yet, but Usyk’s team regards Zuffa Boxing as one of the key partners for organising the event. The final format and venue of the show will be confirmed shortly.
