POWER VS PRECISION: DEONTAY WILDER CONFIRMS TALKS FOR SHOCK 2026 FIGHT WITH OLEKSANDR USYK
Deontay Wilder confirmed to talkSPORT that negotiations for a 2026 fight with Oleksandr Usyk are "real." Usyk, who dropped his WBO title, chose Wilder for a massive payday.
Deontay Wilder told talkSPORT that he's in talks for a fight with Oleksandr Usyk.
Usyk reclaimed the undisputed title after his win against Daniel Dubois in July, but chose to give up his WBO belt after being told to fight Fabio Wardley.
This choice allowed the Ukrainian to pick his next opponent, and he decided to call out Wilder, the American known for his punching power.
This surprised many, who thought Usyk might face a top contender or pursue a third fight with Tyson Fury.
Wilder has only one win since 2023, and some have suggested he should retire.
However, the American boxer still pulls in big crowds, and his powerful right hand is still seen as one of the division's most dangerous.
Both teams said they want to make the fight happen in 2026.
Wilder, speaking from Dubai before Pulev vs Gassiev, told talkSPORT that negotiations are underway.
The chat is real, Wilder said to talkSPORT's White & Jordan at the 2025 IBA Men’s Boxing World Championship.
Boxing is a job, but deals can fall apart. Right now, we are talking about that fight, yes.
I'm looking forward to it. Once I know the details, I'll be ready to go.
I'm excited about the possibility, and I'll start camp when things are clearer.
The chances of these two meeting in the ring are getting better every day.
Usyk will likely be the favourite, given his success and Wilder's recent struggles.
However, the fight could still create a lot of money and interest, even though they are at different points in their careers.
Wilder's Thoughts on Usyk's Challenge
Most boxing fans were surprised by Usyk's direct call to fight Wilder.
But Wilder thinks it was going to happen eventually, due to his recent losses against Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang.
About Usyk's call-out, he said, I wasn't surprised; I was half and half.
I don't often get chances because of my power.
The power makes it harder, but after losing, people get brave.
Strangely, you get more chances when you lose. When I was winning, I didn't get as many.
When and Where Could Usyk vs. Wilder Happen?
Wilder didn't share many details about the fight contract during his talkSPORT interview.
He is a big star in the US, so Las Vegas, a popular fight location, could be a good choice for the event.
Wilder had mentioned signing a contract for a fight in January, but that is unlikely to happen now.
The fight will probably take place later next year to give them enough time to prepare.
Wilder last fought in June, defeating Tyrrell Herndon, and Usyk is currently recovering from an injury.
NEW ERA: JON JONES EYES MVP JUMP AS UFC RELATIONSHIP HITS BREAKING POINT
Jon Jones hits back at the UFC, demanding his contract be terminated to pursue new opportunities at Most Valuable Promotions.
Jake Paul says he’s ready to promote Jon Jones if Dana White lets him walk away from the UFC.
Jones wanted a spot on the big UFC White House card in June. He hinted that the promotion even reached out about an appearance. Most people thought they’d finally line him up against Alex Pereira, who just moved up to heavyweight, but Pereira’s fighting Cyril Gane instead.
Then Dana White went public, basically saying Jones is done with the UFC and retired from MMA. That didn’t sit well with Jones. He fired back, demanding a release so he could look at other opportunities.
If he gets out of that ironclad contract, Jake Paul’s new MMA project with Most Valuable Promotions is a real option. Paul’s already signed Jones’ long-time rival, Francis Ngannou, who’s set to fight Philipe Lins on their debut card in May. Now, Paul says he’d happily work with Jones too.
At a press conference, Paul put it out there: “Jon, you’re always welcome to come over to MVP. We’ll get it popping, and we’ll get you paid what you deserve.”
Honestly, Paul trying to lure Jones over feels possible, especially since Jones has wanted to fight Ngannou for years. The fight has been teased both inside and outside the UFC, but it has never materialised.
Paul’s clearly gunning to shake up the UFC’s grip on MMA, so who knows, an offer to Jones could be coming soon.
But can Jones actually fight again? Lately, he’s talked about hip problems that have made people doubt his future. He hasn’t fought since defending his title in November 2024 against Stipe Miocic. Still, he says the injury won’t stop him.
On social media, Jones said, “Yeah, I’ve got arthritis in my hip, and it hurts, but that doesn’t mean I can’t fight. So let me get this straight: if I took the lowball offer, my hip would magically be fine, and I’d be on the White House card? That makes no sense. I even got stem cell treatment last week to be ready, and training camp was supposed to start today. I was getting prepared. If the UFC really thinks I’m finished, I’m asking to be released from my contract right now. No more spin, no more games. Thanks to the real fans who get it.”
REVENGE MISSION: EDDIE HEARN SIGNS UFC CHAMP TOM ASPINALL AFTER LOSING CONOR BENN
Eddie Hearn strikes back: Read about Tom Aspinall signing with Matchroom, Conor Benn’s $15M Zuffa deal, and the Dana White rivalry.
Dana White, the boss at UFC and the man behind Zuffa Boxing, just snagged Conor Benn away from Eddie Hearn. Although if we’re being honest, Benn did a lot of the heavy lifting himself with that $15 million price tag.
White was quick to celebrate, maybe a little too loudly, especially on the UFC side, but Hearn didn’t let him have the spotlight for long. Not even a week later, Hearn fired back by announcing he’d signed UFC heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall to the Matchroom Talent Agency.
This back-and-forth between Hearn and White is turning into one of the more interesting rivalries in combat sports right now.
Zuffa Boxing’s move to grab Benn for a one-fight, $15 million deal definitely made waves. Benn, after all, spent ten years fighting under Hearn’s banner before jumping ship. Hearn hasn’t been shy about how much the move stings, especially since he’s been trading barbs with White nonstop.
But Hearn’s not just sitting around feeling sorry for himself. He went public on Instagram, welcoming Aspinall to the Matchroom squad. “Welcome to the team, UFC Heavyweight Champ @tomaspinallofficial,” Hearn posted. “Time to get what’s yours @matchroomtalentagency.”
It’s just the latest shot in their ongoing feud. White’s been out there calling Hearn soft for getting emotional about Benn leaving. Hearn, never one to back down, fired back in an interview, saying White doesn’t care about his fighters at all.
“I hear people’s comments, like Dana White calling me names and Terence Crawford asking if I actually care about these guys,” Hearn said. “I’m not saying I’m perfect, but we’re not like Dana White and his crew. They don’t give a damn about the fighters.
“Have you ever seen Dana White show any emotion when someone wins? He just hands over the belt, does a press conference, then heads home to his mansion with a cigar and a glass of whisky, thinking, ‘Life is sweet; we just made $800 million this year.’”
So what do you think about Tom Aspinall teaming up with Hearn’s agency? Is this a good move for Aspinall, or is it going to cause problems down the line? Let’s hear your thoughts.
