Deontay Wilder has a major fight ahead, but unfinished business still lingers in his mind. The former heavyweight champion faces Derek Chisora on Saturday in a bout that could reshape his career, yet talk of a showdown with Oleksandr Usyk continues to follow him.
For months, many believed Wilder and Usyk had a deal in place. Reports suggested the fight was close to official but that never proved true. Negotiations stalled, and both sides moved in different directions.
Wilder did not hide his frustration when discussing the situation.
“Unfortunately it couldn’t happen in a timely manner,” Wilder told Brunch Boxing. “It is what it is. We were trying to figure out what Usyk side wanted to do. Where they wanted the fight. What dates and stuff like that.”
He made it clear that time is not on his side. Wilder knows his window is shrinking, and he refuses to wait around.
“I’m an older fighter,” Wilder said. “I just can’t sit around like a younger fighter. The clock is ticking. Every minute. Every second of the hour. We gotta move.”
Wilder revealed that interest from Usyk’s team only became clear after his fight with Chisora was finalized. By then, his focus had already shifted.
Once the Chisora bout was signed, Wilder said Usyk’s side finally acknowledged a willingness to negotiate. The timing did not work. The opportunity slipped away.
Despite the setback, Wilder chose his words carefully. He hinted at deeper issues but avoided placing blame. He understands the fight could still happen.
Behind the scenes, his team shared similar concerns. Manager Shelly Finkel pointed to a lack of structure during talks.
“We were talking to them and they didn’t have everything in detail together,” Finkel told Brunch Boxing.
This was not the first time Wilder and Usyk circled each other. Back in October 2022, both fighters expressed strong interest in meeting in the ring. Usyk even said he would attend Wilder’s fight against Robert Helenius at Barclays Center.
Wilder’s team prepared for a big moment. They planned to invite Usyk into the ring after the fight to build hype. It would have set the stage for a future clash.
Usyk never showed up.
Instead, reports indicated he attended a charity event in California that same night. The momentum faded, and talks cooled. For a while, the fight seemed lost.
Interest returned recently, but the same issues surfaced again. Timing and logistics once again blocked progress.
Usyk now has his own commitment ahead. He is set to face Rico Verhoeven on May 23. After that, both fighters could be available.
Wilder remains focused on the task in front of him. He knows a strong performance against Chisora could bring everything back into play.
His team still believes the fight with Usyk will happen, per Finkel.
“If Deontay does what he’s supposed to do, we will fight Usyk next.”
Wilder agrees with that outlook. He sees the missed opportunity as a delay, not a dead end. For now, he plans to handle business in the ring. If he does, the path to Usyk may finally clear.
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