Oleksandr Usyk vacated his WBO heavyweight title in pursuit of a ‘big fight’ with Deontay Wilder.
The Ukrainian had been ordered by the WBO to defend his belts against the winner of Joseph Parker vs Fabio Wardley in October.
However, after Wardley got his hand raised, Usyk opted to relinquish the red and gold strap, resulting in the Brit being upgraded to full world champion.
While ‘The Cat’s’ adviser Sergey Lapin recently declared that his client had ‘dropped the title to give younger fighters a chance’, Usyk insists the decision was made with his ‘business’ interests at heart.
“This is a sport and a business. If Parker won, for me, it is interesting,” Usyk told Boxing King Media.
“If Wardley wins, for me, not interesting. I say, ‘Okay, I give you [my] belt, maybe later we will fight together’.
“A big fight is the only thing on my mind.”
Pressed on who that ‘big fight’ would be against, Usyk added: “I want a fight with Deontay Wilder, for me, I think it is interesting.
“This is a world champion guy, this is a very famous guy, this is a strong guy.
“He is one of the great heavyweights of the last 10 years.”
Usyk went on to confirm that no official offer had been made but that Wilder is his “first option”.
Asked if there is anyone else on his radar, Usyk replied: “We have not spoken about this.
“Now, I only have one person [in my mind], and that is Deontay.”
Deontay Wilder isn’t the same fighter he once was
A fight with Wilder is a surprising choice, given the American’s dramatic physical decline.
Wilder has looked like a shell of his former self since his barnstorming trilogy with Tyson Fury.
The 40-year-old was convincingly beaten by Parker and Zhilei Zhang.
And while he returned to winning ways in June against journeyman Tyrrell Herndon, his performance left a lot to be desired.
At the peak of his powers, the long-reigning WBC heavyweight champion was a fearsome puncher, but Father Time and the punishing effects of a 49-fight (44-4-1) career have since caught up with him.
