Deontay Wilder says the long-discussed fight with Oleksandr Usyk did not fall apart at the negotiating table — it never lined up with the plan already in motion.
Wilder told Fight Hub TV the Usyk idea was real “at moments,” but as the buzz grew, there was still no confirmed date or venue to anchor the talks.
With no firm date or location on the table, Wilder turned his focus back to a fight that had been in the works far longer.
Chisora Fight Was Already In Motion
Wilder explained that negotiations for a fight with Derek Chisora had been underway for months and were initially targeted for December before other circumstances delayed it.
“And me and Derek have been working on a fight for a very long time,” Wilder said. “Actually, this fight’s supposed to have happened back in December, you know what I mean, but due to other situations and stuff, it didn’t happen.”
By the time Usyk’s name entered serious discussion, Wilder said the Chisora agreement was already part of a wider plan he did not want to abandon.
Usyk Talks Lacked Structure
Wilder said Usyk mentioned the fight first, which sparked the wave of attention and conversations. But he also suggested the situation never came with the basics needed to move it forward quickly.
“He mentioned it first, he wanted to fight me,” Wilder said, describing how the talks gathered momentum. “But I don’t think they, you know, had a real set date, a place where they wanted to go, that still was lingering around. And you know, the clock goes like this, it’s tick tock.”
As World Boxing News reported exclusively last year, Shelly Finkel wanted Wilder in the ring by the end of 2025. At 40, Wilder stressed that waiting without direction was not an option.
“I can’t sit back, I can’t sit around,” Wilder said. “And of course, we have plans of what we want to do to get to the top.”
Timing Over Opportunity
Rather than framing the situation as a rejection, Wilder described it as timing and progression. He said his return path was already mapped out, and he wanted a step that fit what came next.
“The second fight is what’s going to be something a level a little bit different than my opponent, but a little bit more,” Wilder said. “And then the Derek Chisora (fight) came, which was the level all over because we need somebody like that.”
Wilder made it clear that the Usyk interest intensified while his own path had already been set. Without a firm framework in place, he was not prepared to let the clock run down.
The opportunity may return. For now, the division has moved on. In Wilder’s words, this time it was not about fear or money. It was about the lack of a plan — and the fact that he refused to sit still while it formed.
The immediate consequence is clear: the WBC title route has shifted, with President Mauricio Sulaiman stating Usyk must next face mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a veteran boxing reporter with 15+ years of experience. He has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside since 2010. Read full bio.