Oleksandr Usyk close to agreeing US bout against Deontay Wilder, plans to fight for two more years

Oleksandr Usyk is “very likely” to fight Deontay Wilder in the first half of 2026 and is in talks with a promoter in the US over a new multi-fight deal. Usyk, the unified heavyweight champion, has defended his titles numerous times on shows promoted or funded by Saudi Arabia's boxing power broker Turki Alalshikh, including twice in Riyadh against Tyson Fury. But his next fight, expected to be against the American Wilder in April or May 2026, is likely to be under a new promotional banner. Usyk is negotiating with an unnamed American promoter, and despite previous talk of retirement, plans to fight for another two years , his manager Egis Klimas told The National at the World Sports Summit in Dubai. Asked if Riyadh Season would be promoting Usyk’s next fight, Klimas said: “No, actually, that's a different group from the United States.” Top Rank, PBC and Golden Boy lead the way in the US boxing market, but Klimas declined to reveal the identity of their new partners. “It's not official yet, so I cannot tell you,” added Klimas, who has previously worked with Top Rank having partnered with them to promote numerous eastern European fighters, including Usyk’s fellow Ukrainian and close friend Vasiliy Lomachenko. Klimas also refused to rule out working with Riyadh season in the future, adding: “I cannot say that [he will not work with them, and that] he's not going to be fighting in the Riyadh Season. He might be fighting in the Riyadh Season, but as far as right now, we don't have any offers or anything like that from them.” He added: “[Usyk] has at least two more years, as he says. So, I cannot go inside of his body, but he feels strong. He feels it's not time for him to hang up his gloves, and he's ready to go.” Usyk last fought in July when he knocked out Daniel Dubois in the fifth round of a Queensbury show – backed by Riyadh Season – at Wembley Stadium in London. Alalshikh publicly called for him to fight rising star Moses Itauma, but the British youngster is still some way off being ready to challenge Usyk. Alalshikh was reported to be unenthusiastic about Usyk’s other potential heavyweight challengers. Wilder held the WBC title for five years before losing it to Fury in their 2020 rematch. He has since struggled for form and has lost four of his last six, including back-to-back defeats against Zhilei Zhang and Joseph Parker. He returned to the ring in June 2025 with a seventh-round stoppage of Tyrrell Herndon. “It’s very likely [we will see Usyk face Wilder],” added Klimas. “Because right now we're working on it, and we're working on some multi-fight agreement for Oleksandr. “As soon as we're going to confirm that, we're going to jump in. And some talks already are going on with the team of Wilder. We're looking at Las Vegas or Los Angeles, and dates are the end of April, beginning of May. “Wilder is one of the best names [that] Oleksandr didn't face yet. He's still in good shape, and he's still a fighter, so he's interesting. And as well, it's the United States.”

Oleksandr Usyk close to agreeing US bout against Deontay Wilder, plans to fight for two more years

Unified heavyweight champion in talks with US promoters over multi-fight deal

World Sports Summit Day 1 – in pictures