Boxing
Usyk backed for Wilder 'last dance' over Verhoeven rematch
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Oleksandr Usyk will likely elect to take Deontay Wilder as his "last dance", with Eddie Hearn anticipating a bout to be made.
The Ukrainian sent shockwaves through the heavyweight division on Friday when he confirmed he was vacating his straps.
Having surrendered the WBA, WBC and IBF titles, attention has now turned to what Usyk will do in a reported farewell bout.
Many had mused a rematch with Rico Verhoeven, but Matchroom boss Hearn thinks the star has a former champion in mind.
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"He's going to fight Wilder next, I believe," he was quoted by The Ring. "He's earned the right to do whatever he wants.
"That's just the fight he wants to take. He'll just go to all bidders and say, ‘Where's the most amount of money I can get for that fight?’.
"That will be him done. I think he's realising [that] does he want to be put under [the] pressure of an ordered fight, a purse bid?
"Does he want to go to Germany and fight Agit Kabayel? Is he slipping? I don't know, but he's earned the right to do whatever he wants.”
Usyk's decision to vacate saw the WBC promote interim champion Kabayel immediately, with the German formerly a mandatory challenger.
Wilder meanwhile came close to facing the star last year, with discussions across December mooting a blockbuster bout between the two.
No deal was reached however, and the American subsequently beat Derek Chisora in the latter's farewell fight in London back in April.
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