With Oleksandr Usyk set to move back down to 200lbs, former WBC champion Deontay Wilder has named the most likely candidate to become an undisputed heavyweight king.
Usyk did just that in May 2024, unifying all four major belts by edging a split decision against Tyson Fury after scoring a ninth-round knockdown.
Since then, he has cemented his supremacy but is now looking to rejoin the cruiserweight scene, potentially in an undisputed showdown with David Benavidez.
Until he retires, though, the Ukrainian will remain the lineal heavyweight champion, unless another fighter assembles all four world titles before he finally hangs up the gloves.
Now, the chances of that happening are relatively slim but, nevertheless, it is worth considering who could realistically succeed Usyk as the top dog.
As far as Wilder is concerned, that man could be Daniel Dubois, who became a two-time world champion by dethroning Fabio Wardley in May.
The 29-year-old then orchestrated a far more emphatic stoppage in their rematch last month, while Agit Kabayel and Filip Hrgovic will make first defences of their respective WBC and IBF titles in due course.
While speaking with IBA Boxing, however, Wilder highlighted Dubois as the current champion who he is picking to be the last man standing.
“To be honest, I like Dubois. I really like that kid. I like how he’s developed and where he is now.
“He’s still got a lot more room to develop – he’s still young and he can develop even more, I can see him unifying [the belts].”
Despite suffering two previous stoppage defeats to Usyk, and an earlier one to Joe Joyce, many would agree that Dubois is leading the chasing pack.
