Usyk in talks with Zuffa over Wilder fight.
The end of Oleksandr Usyk’s career will also be the end of an era, an era of one of the greatest professional runs of any boxer in the 21st century.
Undisputed at cruiserweight, undisputed twice at heavyweight, and having never suffered an official loss or even a knockdown.
That’s without mentioning an amateur career that featured a record of over 300 wins and an Olympic gold medal.
Quite simply, his greatness is unquestionable, and to see a fighter like that go is to witness the departure of someone we won’t see the likes of for a very long time.
Last week, Usyk released his unified heavyweight championship, allowing those ranked in three of the four organisations their shot at holding a title for themselves.
This was immediately a sign that the Ukrainian was planning his retirement, and he confirmed as much upon stating that his next fight would be his last.
Who that would be against quickly became a subject of discussion, but it wasn’t long before one name emerged as the frontrunner.
Deontay Wilder had reportedly been a candidate to fight Usyk earlier this year, but those rumours would eventually break down.
However, he is now the man most likely to feature in the final bout of Usyk’s career. According to new reports, the American is currently in talks to face him in a bout that could land on a Zuffa Boxing show in America.
Sergey Lapin (Usyk’s team director) told BBC Sport, “Usyk has already stated that he sees Deontay Wilder as the opponent for his last dance. It is a matchup with significant potential from a sporting, media, and international perspective.
“We are in direct discussions with Zuffa Boxing at the highest level. At this stage, no agreements have been signed.
“Zuffa Boxing is being considered as one of the potential partners for a major international event.
“The final structure will be determined based on what is in the best interests of the fight, the fighters, and the overall scale of the project.”
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