Wardley made clear Wilder would still be in the combo if the larger goal proves out of reach.
“After all, I’d definitely entertain a Deontay Wilder fight,” said Wardley to Fight Hub TV. “Priority primary is Daniel Dubois, come through that fight and eliminate him, then it might be Oleksandr Usyk, that will be my aim, but when that fight doesn’t materialize or simply isn’t doable, then yeah, third on the list can be Deontay Wilder.”
It’s one other sign that Wilder’s name still carries value even after a difficult run lately. The previous WBC champion is not any longer viewed the best way he was during his peak years, but he stays certainly 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 will also offer a known opponent with knockout history and a recognizable profile, something many contenders cannot offer.
Before any of that may occur, Wardley must take care of Dubois, who enters as a dangerous test and a way 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 way back. That claims as much about heavyweight business because 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 prefer to speak about undisputed legacy, the fact is that at 39, Usyk is within the cash-out phase of his profession.
If Usyk can secure a 3rd 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 final word opportunistic opponent for a young champion like Wardley.
Although he lost to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang, Wilder’s “Bronze Bomber” brand continues to be a draw. To the casual public, beating Wilder would still help Wardley’s profession.
Wilder’s win over Derek Chisora on April 4th showed that while his legs could be fading, that right hand still works against domestic-level opposition.
For Wardley, Wilder represents an enormous payday and a likelihood to say a scalp that even Anthony Joshua hasn’t officially taken. In Wilder’s forged, it’s a direct ticket back to a world title that he thought was gone without end.