Oleksandr Usyk vs. Deontay Wilder - Who wins?

[joshj909]

Dissapointing end to his career from Usyk.

I get it, but it still leaves a slightly sour taste in the mouth.

He's gone from being my favourite fighter to I couldn't care less about him,

Yeah, I mean, he might as well have gone out with a bang than a whimper. There's really nothing to gain from a fight with Wilder other than more money, and he has plenty already.

If wilder somehow sparked him it would be a rather ignominius end to a sparklingt and much lauded career.

He wants his legacy to look better from the future. People will just see that he beat the three biggest name champs of the era.

[tonyevs]

Credit to Usyk for giving up the titles as he lines this fight up.
The genuine active guys get a chance to fight for the titles and Usyk to get Wilders name on his fight record whilst earning a couple more million.

He could have easily followed the example of previous holders and dragged things out to stagnate the division further.

[BroughtonRulesRefuge]

Credit to Usyk for giving up the titles as he lines this fight up.
The genuine active guys get a chance to fight for the titles and Usyk to get Wilders name on his fight record whilst earning a couple more million.

He could have easily followed the example of previous holders and dragged things out to stagnate the division further.

- But he said he was going for one and done and already dragged out his career.

Fighting Al Haymon's shot to shyte posterboy Deyonce gits him nothing but derision. His fans, wife and family need to step in to stop what may be brain damage.

Now, I realize Turki's Millions would be hard to turn down, but he's already multimillion$ and likely well invested. It's a fight to nowhere good...

[Ruthless-RKO]

[gilgamesh]

After seeing Joshua come within an inch of slipping on a Banana Peel this weekend I'm sure Wilder certainly will not be thinking of any further tuneups or anything.

[tiny_acres]

After seeing Joshua come within an inch of slipping on a Banana Peel this weekend I'm sure Wilder certainly will not be thinking of any further tuneups or anything.

I'm hoping they schedule this soon. I am tired of these fights dragging out

[Ruthless-RKO]

At this rate.. if wilder comes out swinging. He can KTFO Joshua.

[mickey1975]

At this rate.. if wilder comes out swinging. He can KTFO Joshua.

He always could. That was the problem.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Usyk seeks 'dangerous' Wilder, says Joshua stops Fury in six rounds

Oleksandr Usyk has doubled down on Deontay Wilder as the opponent he's seeking for his last dance.

The Ring's heavyweight champion vacated his IBF, WBA and WBC titles in June so that he wouldn't create a logjam in the division while navigating what he says is the final fight of his career.

Usyk (25-0, 16 KOs) intends to fight in the United States, so, appropriately, he's eyeing an encounter with the "The Bronze Bomber" Wilder, the most accomplished American heavyweight of his era.

"Listen, [Wilder], this is a man who over the last 10 years has been a top fighter and world champion. He's a dangerous guy," Usyk told All Out Fighting.

Wilder (45-4-1, 43 KOs), a former long-reigning WBC titleholder, turns 41 in October and his best days are clearly behind him. The hard-hitting Alabama native is 3-4 this decade and is coming off a sloppy slugfest, where he won a split decision victory over friend Derek Chisora in April.

After completing a taxing trilogy against Tyson Fury in 2020, Wilder has stopped overmatched opposition in Robert Helenius and Tyrrell Herndon, but suffered losses against Zhilei Zhang and Joseph Parker.

Usyk beat Chisora in 2020 in just his second heavyweight fight before conquering Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Daniel Dubois twice each. The 39-year-old Ukrainian's last fight in May, however, was tumultuous as he saved face by securing a come-from-behind, 11th-round stoppage win against kickboxer Rico Verhoeven.

The Ukrainian understands that beating a wilted Wilder won't add much to his legacy, but the future first-ballot Hall of Famer is marching to the beat of his own drum.

"I'm not boxing for glory. For me, it's just my life," he said.

When asked if he still considers himself the world's top heavyweight, he said: "Maybe, I don't know. For me I'm the underdog every time. I feel good, it's a good time. We continue training, continue boxing and develop my career."

While Usyk prepares for the final ring walk of his career, another fight featuring his greatest rivals – Joshua vs. Fury – is inching closer to becoming a reality.

To the surprise of no one, Usyk is siding with his former foe-turned-teammate to secure a win in a battle between former heavyweight champions.

"[Joshua] knocks him out in six rounds," he said. "AJ right hand."

[Grilling Machine]

Never mind Wilder, now that Wardley and Itauma are out of the running it's Kabayel all day.

If Usyk won he'd retire the greatest heavyweight of his era without dissent. If Kabayel won there'd be criticism that Usyk was faded and his record was otherwise much lighter, but it'd still be an exceptional way to bow out.

It's just so obviously the natural last fight for both.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Yh no doubt Usyk probably eats Moses based on that last performance

[Ruthless-RKO]

.@ringmagazine heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk is targeting a fight with Deontay Wilder in March 2027 in the United States, Usyk’s advisor, Serhii Lapin, tells @InsideRingShow. Would be Usyk’s first major fight in the U.S. Talks continue.

[Grilling Machine]

Can't see who it benefits unless Wilder gets lucky, in a fight nobody else but Usyk wants. Kabayel might go on to lose, but right now he's the only legacy fight available.

Much better for Usyk to retire than risk an upset over someone he'll get no credit for beating. Doesn't need the money at this point. It's bizarre.

[gregregegg]

Can't see who it benefits unless Wilder gets lucky, in a fight nobody else but Usyk wants. Kabayel might go on to lose, but right now he's the only legacy fight available.

Much better for Usyk to retire than risk an upset over someone he'll get no credit for beating. Doesn't need the money at this point. It's bizarre.

I kinda see what you mean but…

Usyk gets to vs the other champ of his era, plus will get paid a lot for a very winnable fight.

Wilder gets a crack at the king of the division and somehow it too is winnable (if usyks fading at the rate it appeared vs Rico.)

Zuffa get to make there title the lineal belt at heavyweight… this is why they will potentialy overpay for it.

I hate it cause wilder winning would kill me… BOMBbbbb squad claiming that makes them the best… even fury squad saying wilder beat the middle weight and fury beat wildER… it hurts me.

But outside of that, it’s a fun enough fight. A technically poor but athletically gifted power puncher vs a technicaly brilliant just master of the craft. The later way way better except both are now well past prime… and a faded puncher ages better than a faded reflex/timing/footwork master.

It’s like aj vs fury, would have been good in there primes, isn’t really top class now, but has a levle of entertainment to it.

[Ruthless-RKO]

He never had that HW fight in US against an American.

Wilder was THE MAN in his era really.

Poor American heavyweights contributed to this.

Imagine he beats Wilder, Fury and Joshua.

Just finish off his career nicely

[gilgamesh]

He never had that HW fight in US against an American.

Wilder was THE MAN in his era really.

Poor American heavyweights contributed to this.

Imagine he beats Wilder, Fury and Joshua.

Just finish off his career nicely

There was never 1 day that Wilder was THE MAN

[Ruthless-RKO]

He never had that HW fight in US against an American.

Wilder was THE MAN in his era really.

Poor American heavyweights contributed to this.

Imagine he beats Wilder, Fury and Joshua.

Just finish off his career nicely

There was never 1 day that Wilder was THE MAN

One of them.

[gilgamesh]

He was even with the lineal Champ at one point. Close, but no cigar.

[Ruthless-RKO]

He was even with the lineal Champ at one point. Close, but no cigar.

I mean he was one of the top dogs at the time.

AJ was never lineal either was he?

[gilgamesh]

He was even with the lineal Champ at one point. Close, but no cigar.

I mean he was one of the top dogs at the time.

AJ was never lineal either was he?

No, and similarly he wasn't THE MAN either. He came closer than Wilder though.

[Finkel]

More of an end of career exhibition than a true fight, isn't it?

Besides, Usyk's words ring particularly hollow. There is another man who has been in the top 10 every year of the last decade, was one of the champions, has a better resume than Wilder, and actually beat Wilder wide when they eventually met. Not to mention, it's a guy Usyk had ample opportunity to fight...
Joseph Parker.

I'll watch this one for a laugh the day after, but no way will I pay for it.

[joshj909]

More of an end of career exhibition than a true fight, isn't it?

Besides, Usyk's words ring particularly hollow. There is another man who has been in the top 10 every year of the last decade, was one of the champions, has a better resume than Wilder, and actually beat Wilder wide when they eventually met. Not to mention, it's a guy Usyk had ample opportunity to fight...
Joseph Parker.

I'll watch this one for a laugh the day after, but no way will I pay for it.

I think Parker was the plan before Verhoeven until Parker got KO'd by Wardley, whereas Wilder beat Chisora and opened the doors there. Usyk therefore had a gap in his schedule before facing Wilder and filled it with Verhoeven. I think he considered Kabayel but Kabayel didn't bother moving the needle enough by choosing to face Knyba instead of someone well known. Parker and Ruiz will be the only champions that he didn't face of that era, he could still choose to face them after Wilder if he just calls it a retirement tour. They're entertaining fights, just not for the belts.

[Ruthless-RKO]

USYK SEEKS WILDER FIGHT IN MARCH SOMEWHERE IN U.S.

Oleksandr Usyk still has his sights set on a bout with Deontay Wilder.

The Ring’s Mike Coppinger reported on the newest episode of “Inside The Ring,” which premiered Monday, that Usyk (25-0, 16 KOs) plans to face Wilder (45-4-1, 43 KOs) sometime in March in the United States. Coppinger added that Usyk wants to face the former WBC heavyweight champion in part because he wants a big fight in the U.S. before retiring.

Usyk, who holds The Ring belt, has fought in the U.S. three times. The Ukrainian southpaw last fought in the States in October 2019, when he scored a seventh-round stoppage of Chazz Witherspoon at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

Usyk, 39, narrowly avoided being on the wrong end of one of the biggest upsets in sports history in his last fight, which resulted in an 11th-round stoppage of Rico Verhoeven on May 23 at Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. In the waning moments of the 11th round, Usyk dropped the former Glory Kickboxing heavyweight champion with a right uppercut.

He swarmed Verhoeven (1-1, 1 KO) after he rose to his feet, and with the round about to end, referee Mark Lyson stopped the fight. Verhoeven, 37, led 96-94 on judge Pasquale Procopio’s scorecard, while judges Fabian Guggenheim and Manuel Oliver Palomo had it 95-95 at the time of the stoppage.

Usyk, ranked No. 2 on The Ring’s pound-for-pound list, is a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion and also achieved the feat at cruiserweight. He vacated the IBF, WBA and WBC heavyweight titles shortly after beating Verhoeven.
Wilder, 40, is coming off a split-decision victory over Derek Chisora on April 4 at O2 Arena in London.

The Tuscaloosa, Alabama, native won the WBC heavyweight title in January 2015, when he went the distance for the first time in his career in a unanimous-decision victory over Bermane Stiverne. He defended that belt 10 times before suffering his first loss, a seventh-round stoppage against Tyson Fury in their second bout in February 2020.

Wilder has gone 3-3 since losing to Fury, including a devastating 11th-round knockout defeat in their third fight in October 2021.