Deontay Wilder has signed a contract for his next fight. He can't comment on the details yet, other than saying, "Two-time ..." Looks like the Paramount+ deal Turki signed (that's going to begin in January) is going to lean on Wilder for some immediate US ratings right out of the gate. It'll be interesting to see how many fights he has next year before a title shot. Match #50 for Wilder is up next. Given all the threads in recent weeks on where Usyk should be ranked all time, how far would Usyk plummet in the all-time standings (on this board) if he's KOed by a 40-year-old Deontay Wilder in 2026? This content is protected
What about two-time IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua? Call me crazy, but I still want to see that fight.
2-time what, though? 2-time Zhang victim, perhaps? Surely not even Delusiontay believes he'd stand any chance of getting a belt again?!
Maybe. It'd still sell, and neither is in the limelight right now. Realistically it wouldn't be competitive, and it never would've been, but it could still be fun, I guess?
1st. That's not gonna happen. PERIOD. 2nd. Wilder is also an extremely delusional character throughout the history of his career. Until something is officially announced, I wouldn't hold my breath. That being said, as highly as this board holds the HW division, not sure how you celebrate that possible match up for 2026. Some have went on and on about why Crawford shouldn't be considered p4p #1 over Usyk because Canelo is a shell of his prime self. But an Usyk/Wilder match up, guarantee that if that fight is to happen, the energy for the results (because Usyk is definitely going to put that man away) is not going to run parallel. Wilder should in no way be even close to having a title shot at this point......... but here we are talking about it......
It's probably vs Pulev for the WBA regular title. Nobody should take issue with that fight. I don't hate Usyk/Wilder as a final fight for either or both of them. Usyk beats Parker and Wilder, that's every HW that was relevant for any significant time over the last decade. There have been worse farewell fights.
But he has to throw it first. Wilder's been gunshy for a while, the one thing that offset his poor boxing technique and kept his opponents wary, is long gone.
Remember when members of his entourage kept chanting ''2 time'' at one of the pre-fight press conferences for Baptism III? This content is protected I'll be real at the time I was actually one of those dummies who thought they were alluding to him becoming a two-time champion but looking back in hindsight they were actually prophesying him to be on the receiving end of his 2nd biblical ass whooping stoppage loss at the hands of Belly