Overview
- The WBC on Wednesday approved Usyk’s petition for a voluntary defense, with president Mauricio Sulaiman noting Wilder’s current top‑10 ranking makes him eligible to challenge.
- Usyk, who vacated the WBO belt but remains the unified WBA, WBC and IBF champion, has publicly called Wilder his “first option” for his next bout.
- Wilder’s co‑manager Shelly Finkel signaled openness to negotiations, saying the team would consider the fight if the financial terms are acceptable.
- Fabio Wardley was upgraded to full WBO champion after Usyk relinquished the title, a move Usyk described as a business decision and his camp framed as creating opportunities for younger fighters.
- Wilder’s recent run includes losses to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang and a June TKO of Tyrrell Herndon, while ongoing mandatories and eliminators in other bodies could influence the fight’s timing.