Unified heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk has named Deontay Wilder as the first option for his next boxing match. Usyk made this statement after he stopped Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in July, becoming a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion.

After that victory, Usyk decided to give up his WBO title. This allowed Britain’s Fabio Wardley, who was the interim champion, to become the full champion. Usyk said he will continue fighting next year, and he believes a match with Wilder would be exciting for boxing fans.

Deontay Wilder, who is now 40 years old, was once one of the most feared boxers in the heavyweight division. He held the WBC title for many years. However, his career has struggled in recent times. He lost important fights to Tyson Fury, Joseph Parker, and Zhilei Zhang. In June, Wilder returned to the ring and won a fight against Tyrrell Anthony Herndon, but it did not bring him back to the top level.

Even though Wilder’s record has dropped, Usyk still respects him. He called Wilder “a very famous and strong guy” and one of the best heavyweights of the last ten years. Usyk has already beaten big names like Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Daniel Dubois, and he believes a fight with Wilder would still be important.

At the same time, other heavyweight boxers are preparing for major matches. Agit Kabayel, Richard Torrez Jr, Frank Sanchez, Kubrat Pulev, and Murat Gassiev are all involved in upcoming title fights or eliminators. Usyk has said he only plans to fight for two more years, and he is hoping to return to the ring in 2026 for one of his final big challenges.