Deontay Wilder Faces Jon Jones in Race for Oleksandr Usyk's Final Fight

Oleksandr Usyk has confirmed his intention to vacate the WBC, WBA, and IBF heavyweight titles, signaling a desire for one final fight before retirement. The Ukrainian's potential opponents have narrowed, with previous contenders like Agit Kabayel and Moses Itauma seemingly off the table.

Promoter Eddie Hearn recently indicated that former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder is a leading candidate for Usyk's last bout. This matchup has been anticipated since last year, especially after Wilder's split decision victory over Derek Chisora at The O2 Arena in April.

However, a new contender has emerged: UFC star Jon Jones. According to Usyk’s advisor Sergey Lapin, a fight against Jones is also being considered. While a clash with Wilder would likely attract significant attention, the prospect of facing Jones, who has no boxing experience and has only fought once in MMA in the last three years, may not resonate with traditional boxing fans.