Deontay Wilder believes he’s one victory away from challenging unified heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Wilder was a long-reigning WBC heavyweight titlist. He lost his belt to Tyson Fury in 2020 and has never managed to reclaim it. The 40-year-old has also suffered losses to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang is recent years.
But he’s convinced he can get back on track and secure a showdown with the masterful Ukrainian, who holds the WBC, WBA and IBF championships.
“It can happen and it will happen. As long as I have the confidence to do what I have to do, it will happen. Unless he retires and if so that’s fine with me. I must accomplish what I set forth in the beginning of my career,” Wilder told Sky Sports.
“Why not make goals while you’re inside of the ring? I have. Unifying the division would be an overwhelming feeling for me. That’s something that I never had the opportunity to have.”
Usyk had previously suggested he wanted to fight Wilder and that contest did seem close. Wilder is convinced it can yet be made.
The American said: “I’m most definitely one win away [from Usyk]. I hear a lot of things. I don’t keep up with too much. I hear he wants to fight me and then all of a sudden he doesn’t want to fight me. You really don’t know what to believe when you’re in the business of boxing.
“He’s one of the best in the era. I do need him to accomplish what I need to accomplish.”
Derek Chisora said his opponent Deontay Wilder will be retiring with him after their bout in April.
Wilder is fighting Derek Chisora, a fellow veteran heavyweight, this weekend. Chisora is in better form, coming off wins over Otto Wallin and Joe Joyce. But Wilder is determined to prove himself a threat.
“I’m looking forward to being dangerous at all times,” Wilder said. “It’s going to be a war. He’s going to feel my energy as I’m going to feel his energy. The first round is going to be very exciting.
“It couldn’t be no better opponent to get me back where I need to be.
“I’m looking forward to this. Although I’m in enemy territory, I feel right at home.”
Wilder, even at his advanced age, has unfinished business with the sport.
“As you can see, the heavyweight division is boring again. It don’t have no type of authenticity in the character that’s in it. I’m authentic. When I speak how I speak, what I say is me,” he said.
“The heavyweight division needs me. They need someone with the personality and characteristics of myself.
“You have too many people that try too hard. They try to be people that they’re not.
“Deontay Wilder’s not [like that]. What you see is what you get.”
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