Alexander Usik, the former undisputed heavyweight world champion, has decided on an opponent for his next bout. According to information reported by Sport RBC.UA, citing the Instagram page of Ring Magazine, the Ukrainian boxer will face American knockout specialist Deontay Wilder in the ring. This was reportedly announced by Sergey Lapin, director of Usik's team.
Who will be Usik's next opponent
According to Lapin's statement, the potential bout with Wilder is planned to take place in the United States in March 2027. A number of specialized outlets are already characterizing this fight as a possible farewell for the Ukrainian star, although the original message uses more restrained wording — it refers to a "next bout" and a "potential" fight. Thus, at this point the information reflects the planning and negotiation stage rather than a signed contract for a specific date.
Format and geography: the US, March 2027
The choice of an American arena and the postponement of the fight to 2027 are logically linked to Usik's recent personnel decisions. At the end of June, the 39-year-old Ukrainian relinquished his IBF, WBC, and WBA championship belts to give young boxers the chance to compete for the titles. According to the source, it was precisely this decision that allowed the Ukrainian star to be freer in choosing his next opponent, no longer tied to mandatory defenses.
Deontay Wilder: a knockout legend and a decline in form
40-year-old Deontay Wilder is a former WBC heavyweight champion (2015–2020) and the author of 10 successful title defenses. The American made history with a record streak of 32 consecutive knockout victories from the start of his career. At the same time, the source highlights a noticeable decline: in his last 10 fights, Wilder emerged victorious only five times, which makes the upcoming bout with Usik one of the most intriguing and unpredictable of his career.
Context: from the defense in Giza to relinquishing the belts
A reminder of Usik's recent form is the May boxing evening in Giza, Egypt, where the Ukrainian defended his WBC title in a bout against kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven, stopping his opponent by technical knockout one second before the final gong in the 11th round. After that, at the end of June, Usik voluntarily parted with the IBF, WBC, and WBA belts. It was also previously reported that Alexander Usik reacted to Ituma's sensational defeat and named the main lesson from the fight with Hrgovic, which underscores his active attention to the competitive environment in the division.
Contradictory data
There are discrepancies between versions from different outlets that should be honestly noted. First, regarding the status of the fight: the original source refers to a "potential" bout that is "planned," while the headlines of a number of media outlets already call it a farewell and effectively confirmed one. In other words, there is a difference between the planning stage and an officially signed contract, which the sources reflect differently. Second, regarding the framing: some publications emphasize the "farewell" nature of the fight, while the basic message is limited to the wording "next bout." The figures on Wilder's form (five wins in his last 10 fights, a streak of 32 knockouts) are provided within a single information block and were not independently re-verified by round-by-round statistics of each fight within this publication.
What this means for Usik's career
If the fight takes place, it will become one of the key events in the heavyweight division and, according to some sources, a possible final chord of Usik's career. For the 39-year-old Ukrainian, a bout with a knockout specialist of Wilder's caliber is both a test of form after relinquishing the titles and a chance to cement his legacy as one of the most significant opponents of the decade. The final details — the exact date, arena, and terms — as of the current moment remain at the negotiation stage and may be refined as talks progress.
