Oleksandr Usyk may have already laid the groundwork for the criticism that will likely follow his next fight. By publicly describing Deontay Wilder as one of the best fighters in the heavyweight division of the last decade, the undisputed champion appears to be defending against a potential opponent that many fans no longer consider to be in the top division.
Usyk praised Wilder when discussing the former WBC champion, and made it clear that he still considers the American a legitimate threat.
“This is a man who 10 years ago was a great striker. He is a dangerous person,” Usyk said to All Out Boxing about Deontay.
The timing of those words is not hard to ignore. Wilder has emerged as the frontrunner to face Usyk, although the reaction remains mixed. Although Wilder is still one of the greatest boxers in the sport, recent results have left many wondering if he is still one of the best.
Syk does the opposite. Instead of focusing on Wilder’s defeat, he highlighted the career that made him the longtime heavyweight champion. That argument also helps justify the merger if negotiations move forward.
This undisputed champion may need that mentality because choosing Wilder is unlikely to satisfy fans who want to see him share the ring with smaller opponents. A fight with Moses Itauma will bring huge excitement due to the rapid rise of the unbeaten Briton, while Frank Sanchez has strengthened his claim with a victory at heavyweight. Those words bring new challenges for the 40-year-old Wilder, whose best years appear to be behind him.
Usyk has never shown much interest in those alternatives. Instead, his public comments suggest that Wilder is among the opponents he believes still have enough credibility to justify a championship fight. That helps explain why he chose to emphasize Wilder’s accomplishments instead of going back and forth that has cast doubt on where the former WBC champion belongs in today’s heavyweight picture.
None of this takes away from what Wilder accomplished. He held the WBC title for five years, defending the belt 10 times before losing to Tyson Fury. He can still finish any fight with one right hand.
The biggest problem is time. Usyk’s comments suggest he knows what the fans will say if Wilder becomes his opponent. By defending Wilder’s guarantees before the contracts were even signed, Usyk appears to be making the case that his next fight deserves more respect than most fans are willing to give it.
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Last updated on 2026/07/29 at 5:18 PM
