Former WBO champion Joseph Parker knows what it takes to fight Deontay Wilder, and has now given his view on the American’s possible match-up with Oleksandr Usyk.
Usyk is a former two-time undisputed champion who decided to vacate his WBO belt rather than fight his mandatory, Fabio Wardley, who has since been promoted to full champion.
He revealed this week that he is instead looking to fight former WBC ruler and notoriously big-punching Wilder, whom Parker beat on points back in 2024.
Speaking to Boxing King Media, Parker — who has vowed to clear his name following a failed test for cocaine around his recent fight with Fabio Wardley — was asked why he thought Usyk wants to fight Wilder.
“He wants to fight the names on this era. If you look at Fabio Wardley, he’s a new name coming through. He’s the champion of the world now but he’s part of the new crop. What Usyk is saying is he wants to fight everyone who was dominating the heavyweight division in his time.”
He was next asked about how the fight might play out.
“Wilder will always have a chance. He’s always got that big right hand he possesses. It’s all up to Usyk really. Does he want to stand there and get caught with the right hand or does he want to showcase his boxing skills, his movements, his angles?”
Wilder has always relied on his power and has often had to pull out a KO to beat boxers who are more technically sound than he. Despite that, he has said he is open to the fight, and the WBC has granted Usyk permission to make a voluntary defence of his belt, so this could well happen in 2026.
