Overview
- Deontay Wilder says negotiations to fight Oleksandr Usyk are a “real conversation” and “very promising,” with a mid‑2026 timeframe and a U.S. venue such as Las Vegas being discussed.
- Usyk retains the WBA (super), WBC and IBF titles after vacating the WBO belt, a move that elevated Fabio Wardley to WBO champion and freed Usyk to choose his next opponent.
- The WBA granted a special permit for Kubrat Pulev to defend its 'regular' belt against Murat Gassiev in Dubai, and ordered the winner to negotiate with mandatory challenger Moses Itauma between Jan 24 and Feb 9 or face a 50‑50 purse bid.
- Wilder and Derek Chisora had a heated Dubai face‑off as Chisora claimed a December fight with Wilder collapsed after a phone call, and Wilder floated Chisora as a possible warm‑up while prioritizing Usyk talks.
- With the WBC allowing a voluntary defense, governing‑body pressures have eased for Usyk in the near term even as the IBF and WBA continue to organize their contender pathways.