Oleksandr Usyk vs. Deontay Wilder? ‘The Bronze Bomber’ Makes His Intentions Clear

The day after tomorrow, Deontay Wilder will enter the ring as he faces Zhilei Zhang at Queensbury and Matchroom Boxing’s 5 vs. 5 matchup. Dmitry Bivol‘s title defense headlines the show. The fight, his second one at the Kingdom Arena, presents an opportunity. Wilder now has a chance to make a last-ditch effort to stake a claim on an everlasting boxing legacy.

Reports suggest ‘The Bronze Bomber’ has expressed an interest in going after Oleksandr Usyk, the newly crowned undisputed champion. But for that to happen, he has to secure a win over ‘The Big Bang’. The former heavyweight champion comes off a surprise loss to Joseph Parker at ‘The Day of Reckoning’ last December.

Deontay Wilder: More Grounds to Cover

Boxing Kingdom shared a post, mentioning that “Deontay Wilder has told media outlets this week that if he defeats Zhilei Zhang this weekend, he would like to fight Oleksandr Usyk in the near future.” For one, the thought of one of the deadliest hitters in boxing history going against arguably the best P4P boxer in the world makes for an engaging thriller. But how are things stacked up for Wilder? Does he have the wherewithal to stake a claim on the undisputed title or the unified one if Usyk is stripped of the IBF title?

Speaking with Queensbury Promotions, he said, “For me, you know, establishing myself, getting back to the titles, obtaining those things, I still want to be undisputed champion…it’s not all just about the money; it’s about attaining the titles again and and um, ending myself with the titles… I want to add to that list of of undisputed champions as I as I leave this business.”

Following the consecutive losses to Tyson Fury, the first-round knockout of Robert Helenius helped Deontay Wilder remind everyone that he may be down but not out. However, the triumph followed a period of inactivity that lasted over 12 months. Reportedly, ‘The Bronze Bomber’ entered the ring as a -700 favorite. But soon, he learned that Joseph Parker had come for a fight.

Giving the best performance of his decade-long career, the New Zealander outboxed Deontay Wilder and claimed a unanimous victory. It led to rumors of the American heavyweight’s retirement. However, Wilder assured everyone that the setback was temporary and that he would be back soon.

The Cat’s Lair

On the other hand, it’s difficult to gauge Oleksandr Usyk’s plan as of now. He and Tyson Fury had agreed upon a rematch. Per available reports, they have a date scheduled to close any pending arguments. ‘The Cat’ is also on the final stretch of his illustrious career. So with or without titles, whether he will circle back to a big payday with Deontay Wilder remains a million-dollar question. But the fact is that within the realm of heavyweight boxing, Deontay Wilder stands as the biggest name Oleksandr Usyk has yet to test himself against.

At the moment, setting aside his dream, Deontay will first have to go past Zhilei Zhang. The situation perhaps never appeared so bleak for the former heavyweight champion. Even after suffering back-to-back defeats to Fury, his stakes remained high. However, his hiatus and break and the loss to Parker seemingly exposed the chinks in ‘The Bronze Bomber’s armor. As a result, coupled with the fact that he will turn 39 this October, he finds himself at a crossroads where another defeat could mean saying sayonara to the sport that has given him so much.

Do you think Deontay Wilder will make a big statement return against Zhilei Zhang? Please share your views with us in the comments below.