Oleksandr Usyk still targeting one other fighter despite calling out Deontay Wilder: “I want him”

Oleksandr Usyk’s recent declaration that he wants to fight Deontay Wilder is not the only matchup on his mind.

The former undisputed heavyweight champion, who currently holds three of the four world titles, raised eyebrows this week when he spoke of his interest in facing “The Bronze Bomber.”

With little appetite at present for regaining his undisputed crown –– which would require a fight with newly crowned WBO titlist Fabio Wardley –– the Ukrainian has instead turned his attention to the 40-year-old former WBC champion.

With two defeats in his last three fights, Wilder has shown no signs of rediscovering the destructive form that once made him one of the sport’s most feared punchers.

But beyond Wilder, Usyk is preparing for another career detour. He and his team are currently assisting former unified champion Anthony Joshua as he readies for his December 19 showdown in Miami against the inexperienced Jake Paul.

Usyk also revealed he would be happy to help Joshua in his preparations to face Tyson Fury should the two British superstars finally meet in 2026.

In fact, Usyk is hoping Paul survives his looming test so that he can face the YouTuber-turned-fighter in a different arena altogether, as he revealed whilst speaking at the WBC Convention in Thailand.

“If Anthony Joshua wants, he can kill this guy. I will pray [for] Jake Paul because I want to fight Jake Paul in the Octagon.”

Usyk has previously expressed a desire to try MMA and recently appeared alongside Dwayne Johnson in The Smashing Machine, a biographical film about MMA star Mark Kerr.

Usyk plays former MMA athlete and kickboxer Igor Vovchanchyn. Kerr and Vovchanchyn fought twice between 1999 and 2000, resulting in one No Contest and one win for the Ukrainian.