Deontay Wilder ‘would love’ to face alternative champion as Usyk talks continue

Deontay Wilder has been linked to a surprise shot at Oleksandr Usyk’s unified heavyweight titles, but ‘The Bronze Bomber’ may face an alternate champion, if those plans do not come to fruition.

Wilder has won just two of his last six professional contests, returning to winning ways with a victory over Tyrrell Herndon back in June following underwhelming displays and defeats to both Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang.

Still, the 40-year-old remains one of the biggest available names for Usyk’s voluntary defence of the belts and the Ukrainian has admitted that he wishes to add the name of the former WBC world champion to his résumé in order to enhance his legacy.

Although, the Alabama-born knockout artist informed Boxing Social of his interest in fighting on an IBA card and facing newly crowned WBA (Regular) champion and former sparring partner, Murat Gassiev, after witnessing the Russian halt Kubrat Pulev in Dubai.

“I would love to fight to with the IBA. Congratulations to Gassiev, I think that would be an amazing fight.

We used to spar together and stuff and I even enjoyed him and loved him as a cruiserweight as well. He was very fast, very strong and confident.”

Like Wilder, Gassiev has also been linked to a scrap with Usyk, with the WBA expected to order that fight in due course and offer the 32-year-old a shot at avenging his 2018 defeat to the reigning heavyweight ruler.