Oleksandr Usyk Allowed To Clashe With Deontay Wilder

Oleksandr Usyk has received the blessing of fighting against Deontay Wilder to defend his WBC title (Instagram/@usykaa).

JAKARTA The undisputed world champion twice, Oleksandr Usyk, was allowed to fight voluntarily to defend his WBC heavyweight world title belt against former world champion Deontay Wilder.

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said that ranking, Wilder is eligible to undergo a fight against the Ukrainian boxing star.

"Deontay Wilder is in eighth or ninth place. So, he is eligible to challenge Oleksandr Usyk if they choose to do so," said Sulaiman as quoted by Sky Sport.

Usyk is still unbeaten, but he is now no longer the undisputed heavyweight world champion after deciding to release the WBO title, which he has held since 2021 when he first defeated Anthony Joshua.

Usyk's decision to remove the WBO belt made Fabio Wardley the real world champion after surprisingly overthrowing England fighter Joseph Parker to become world champion while (interm).

Usyk currently remains the world heavyweight champion of the united WBC, WBA, and IBF. He has also asked permission to fight voluntarily to defend the WBC belt which immediately received the blessing.

"Usyk submitted a request for voluntary defense and it was approved today," said Sulaiman.

Wilder previously held the WBC title from 2015 to 2020, before losing to Tyson Fury. He failed to reclaim the belt in their third fight.

The United States fighter had gloomy years afterward, including defeats against Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang. He then bounced back with a win over pundit Anthony Herndon in June 2025.

Apart from the WBC, the IBF will also have no problem if the world champion chooses to face Wilder in his next fight.

Serhii Lapin as CEO of Team Usyk explained that Wilder was an option because he was one of the best fighters ever despite being slumped in recent years.

"Wilder is a big name that means a lot to add to Usyk's record. He is one of the most dangerous bats in his generation, a former world champion, and a fighter known throughout the world of boxing," Lapin said.