The heavyweight landscape just shifted into sharper focus. Based on sources cited by Brunch Boxing, Deontay Wilder will square off against Derek Chisora in April 2026 in the UK, with a London press conference slated for the next week to formalize the matchup.
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⛓️💥 Breaking NewsSources: Deontay Wilder Set to Return Against Chisora in April
Click the 🔗 for the total storyhttps://t.co/dac9g2PXGW#BrunchBoxing pic.twitter.com/TV2eORdhBc
— Brunch Boxing (@BrunchBoxing) January 20, 2026
This is not only one other tune-up fight for a fading veteran—it is a rigorously orchestrated stepping stone toward what might be a defining final chapter for the 40-year-old former WBC champion.
Wilder’s strategic pivot is unmistakable. After capturing a confidence-restoring seventh-round TKO victory over Tyrrell Herndon in June 2025, the Bronze Bomber has identified the best antagonist for his comeback narrative.
The moment Deontay Wilder earned the stoppage over Tyrrell Herndon 😤 pic.twitter.com/sFOCZf8TsN
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) June 28, 2025
Chisora, entering on a three-fight winning streak and billing this as his fiftieth and final skilled bout, presents each an appetizing test and a manageable risk profile for Wilder’s resurgence. The British veteran’s pressure-heavy style and willingness to interact make him a legitimate challenge without derailing Wilder’s path to greater prizes.
The true headline here, nevertheless, concerns Usyk. The unified heavyweight champion has publicly called out Wilder, despite the Bronze Bomber losing 4 of his last six contests. Usyk’s logic is only legacy-driven: he’s targeting the “big three” of his era—Joshua, Fury, and Wilder. He’s already dismantled the primary two. Based on his manager Egis Klimas, Usyk is working on a multi-fight agreement, with timing targeted for late July or early August 2026 for the title showdown.
Oleksandr Usyk’s manager Egis Klimas has revealed that a fight against Deontay Wilder could occur in April. The fight would likely happen in Las Vegas or Los Angeles.
— Boxing Kingdom (@BoxingKingdom14) December 31, 2025
The WBC has already blessed this trajectory, with sanctioning body president Mauricio Sulaiman publicly declaring Wilder “welcome” to challenge for Usyk’s belts despite his current rating at No. 13 within the WBC top 15. This approval underscores a bigger storyline: Usyk’s pursuit of legendary status transcends mere competitiveness.
For Wilder, the calculus is easy but precarious. A dominant victory over Chisora in April sets up the defining fight of his twilight years—a probability to reclaim relevance against the game’s undisputed king before the ultimate curtain closes. Fail against Chisora, nevertheless, and that window slams permanently shut.
The boxing world is watching closely. Wilder’s return is not only about fighting; it’s about validating whether champions never truly fade, or whether Father Time proves to be the one opponent nobody can beat.