Wardley targets Usyk unification first, but says Wilder remains in line if title path does not open
Fabio Wardley says Deontay Wilder is on his shortlist for a future fight if he beats Daniel Dubois on May 9 and cannot secure a unification with Oleksandr Usyk. The British heavyweight outlined his options as he prepares for a title bout in Manchester.
Wardley is scheduled to face Dubois in Manchester with the WBO heavyweight title at stake. If he comes through that fight, the unbeaten British heavyweight says his first choice would be to chase Usyk and a chance to add more belts.
Wardley made clear Wilder would still be in the mix if the bigger target proves out of reach.
“Of course, I would definitely entertain a Deontay Wilder fight,” said Wardley to Fight Hub TV. “Priority number one is Daniel Dubois, come through that fight and get rid of him, then it would be Oleksandr Usyk, that would be my aim, but if that fight doesn’t materialize or just isn’t doable, then yeah, third on the list would be Deontay Wilder.”
It is another sign that Wilder’s name still carries value even after a difficult run in recent years. The former WBC champion is no longer viewed the way he was during his peak years, but he remains one of the few heavyweights outside the title picture who can still bring worldwide attention.
For Wardley, a fight with Wilder would likely attract strong interest in Britain and abroad. It would also offer a known opponent with knockout history and a recognizable profile, something many contenders cannot offer.
Before any of that can happen, Wardley must deal with Dubois, who enters as a dangerous test and a far more immediate problem than future matchmaking talk.
If Wardley wins and the Usyk route stalls, Wilder may yet find himself back in a title conversation that looked closed not long ago. That says as much about heavyweight business as it does about Wilder himself.
Oleksandr Usyk already strategically vacated that WBO belt in November 2025, specifically to avoid the mandatory defense against Wardley. While fans like to talk about undisputed legacy, the reality is that at 39, Usyk is in the cash-out phase of his career.
If Usyk can secure a third massive payday against Tyson Fury after his fight against Rico Verhoeven in Egypt, he has zero incentive to risk his remaining titles against a younger, physical powerhouse like Wardley for a fraction of the purse.
At 40, Deontay Wilder is the ultimate opportunistic opponent for a young champion like Wardley.
Even though he lost to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang, Wilder’s “Bronze Bomber” brand is still a draw. To the casual public, beating Wilder would still help Wardley’s career.
Wilder’s win over Derek Chisora on April 4th showed that while his legs might be fading, that right hand still works against domestic-level opposition.
For Wardley, Wilder represents a huge payday and a chance to claim a scalp that even Anthony Joshua hasn’t officially taken. In Wilder’s cast, it’s a direct ticket back to a world title that he thought was gone forever.