Usyk’s rise through the boxing ranks has been nothing short of extraordinary. After a legendary run to become the undisputed cruiserweight world champion, he moved up to heavyweight in 2019 and, within five years, replicated the achievement. He defeated Anthony Joshua twice and Tyson Fury once to claim all four major heavyweight titles, cementing his place among the sport’s elite.
In 2025, Usyk vacated the IBF heavyweight title and faced Daniel Dubois, who had been awarded the vacant belt. Usyk knocked out Dubois to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion in what was his only fight of the year.
Now, Usyk has once again vacated a title, relinquishing the WBO belt, which has since been assigned to British heavyweight Fabio Wardley.
While many expected Usyk to take on Wardley, he instead set his sights on a surprising bout with Deontay Wilder. However, it now appears Wilder will first face Derek Chisora in April, potentially clearing the way for a future showdown with the Ukrainian champion.
In a recent interview with Ready To Fight, Usyk was asked to rank Wilder against his toughest heavyweight opponents, Joshua and Fury. Usyk explained why he places Wilder third.
“I don’t have a ‘strongest’. Each of them spent years reaching such a high level,” Usyk said.
“But if judging by the difficulty of my preparation for the bout and the intensity of the fight itself, then Tyson Fury is in first place, and Anthony Joshua is in second.
“I currently place Wilder third because I haven’t boxed him yet. This is a purely subjective feeling.”
Usyk’s comments underscore the respect he holds for all three fighters while highlighting the unique challenges each opponent posed during his dominant run in the heavyweight division. As fans await the next chapter in Usyk’s career, the prospect of a Wilder clash remains a compelling possibility.