Instead, Wilder remains in the picture.
“If Deontay’s team wants it, I will do it,” Usyk said, via The Athletic.
The criticism is understandable. Usyk has already accomplished virtually everything available to him, but a Wilder fight at this stage would carry considerably less sporting significance than Itauma or another leading heavyweight.
Wilder’s name still sells, and his punching power gives any matchup promotional value. But Usyk no longer needs another famous name on his record. A final fight against a dangerous contender attempting to take his place would provide a more fitting test.
Usyk maintains that he is motivated by completing his checklist against the premier heavyweights of his generation. Having already defeated Joshua and Fury twice each, he views Wilder, 40, as the major name from that era still missing from his record.
Fans see something else. Wilder offers Usyk a former WBC champion with name recognition, a potentially lucrative fight and, based on his recent form, a relatively safe way to finish his career without taking a serious risk of losing.
Wilder held the WBC heavyweight title for five years and became one of the biggest American stars in the division, largely because of his frightening right hand. Much of that appeal has disappeared following two losses to Fury and defeats against Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang.
More telling is what has happened to Wilder’s once devastating right hand. The bazooka-like power that carried him through much of his career has not looked the same in recent years. Wilder has also discussed problems with his right shoulder, which raises another question about how much of his greatest weapon remains at 40.
That is what makes Usyk-Wilder difficult to sell as a meaningful final test. Usyk gets the former champion’s name and whatever commercial value remains without facing the type of young, dangerous heavyweight who might actually send him into retirement with a loss.
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