Deontay Wilder: First Chisora, Then Usyk?

Deontay Wilder is set to return in April against Derek Chisora in the UK, according to reports from Brunch Boxing citing unnamed sources. The fight is being positioned as a preparatory step toward a potential move on Oleksandr Usyk later in 2026, though no contracts have been confirmed publicly. A London press conference is expected next week to formalize the event.

Testing Ground for Heavyweight Return

Wilder, now 40, has been largely inactive in recent years and is coming off a stoppage win over Tyrell Herndon in June 2025. The Chisora fight is designed to evaluate his ring rust and punch timing before any serious push back into the heavyweight title picture. After years away from championship-level opposition, Wilder needs rounds against a live body to determine whether he can still operate at the level required to challenge Usyk.

Chisora, 42, has indicated this will be his final professional fight. While he remains a limited fighter at this stage, his come-forward style and willingness to trade make the fight less predictable than it might have been earlier in Wilder’s career. Chisora has taken heavy leather over the years, but he is still capable of landing a clean counter if given openings inside. That makes this more than a safe tune-up for Wilder, who has shown defensive lapses in exchanges when his footwork is compromised.

The Usyk discussion is contingent on Wilder getting through Chisora and demonstrating he still has the hand speed and right-hand power to compete at the championship level. Usyk is operating in a different weight class skill-wise than anyone Wilder has faced in recent years, and any realistic path toward that fight requires a convincing performance in April. Until the Chisora bout is finalized and completed, the Usyk conversation remains speculative..