In an interview with the International Boxing Association (IBA), former WBC heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder has revealed that he is interested in facing reigning WBA champion Murat Gassiev, confirming that discussions have taken place between their teams.

At 41, the American insists he still has the hunger to compete against the division’s biggest names and believes his next chapter should be defined by legacy rather than money or championship belts.

During the wide-ranging conversation, Wilder discussed his relationship with Gassiev, the possibility of fighting Oleksandr Usyk, the changing heavyweight landscape and why he believes American boxing is struggling to produce its next generation of champions. Above all, the former world champion made one thing clear: he is not ready to leave the spotlight.

“Out of all the choices, I would love that one”

Of the potential opponents currently being discussed, Gassiev appears to be the one who excites Wilder most. The American confirmed that there has been contact between the two camps and spoke warmly about the Russian heavyweight, whom he knows from their time in training camps.

“There is some communication between me and Murat’s team for sure, and I would love that. Out of all the choices, I would love for that one to go,’ Wilder said. ‘He’s a great guy, a great champion. He’s been to my camps before, and we’ve sparred. I always thought very highly of Murat, even as a human being. To see him as a champion is well deserved.”

Their previous encounters took place in the gym, but Wilder now hopes they can meet with something more significant at stake. “Now I hope we can really get in the ring where it really counts. I would love that. But we’ll see what happens. There are so many different moving pieces at this moment.” Wilder was careful not to suggest that a deal had been finalised, explaining that several possibilities remained under consideration.

Usyk, money and the bout that never happened

Another name raised during the interview was Oleksandr Usyk, whom Wilder has previously been linked with. Asked why the bout had not materialised, the American pointed to financial demands while making clear that his information was second-hand.

“He wants too much money. That’s what I’m hearing,” Wilder said. ‘If that’s the case, you have to get what you feel you’re worth. I’ve lost a lot of money and I’ve made a lot of money, but when it comes to making fights, I just like to see who’s the best.”

For Wilder, financial rewards have become less important than the opportunity to test himself against elite opposition. ‘Money is not everything. It doesn’t buy happiness. It doesn’t bring peace. It doesn’t bring trustworthy people around you.’

That attitude also shapes how he views the closing stages of his career. Asked whether reclaiming a world title or earning another major payday mattered more, he offered a different answer. “It would be my legacy. It isn’t even necessarily about belts. I want to fight the people who are supposed to be the best. When it’s all over, the money isn’t going to go with you when you die. The belts aren’t going to go with you either. But your legacy will live on forever.”

The idea of extending his career well beyond the usual retirement age has also crossed his mind. When the possibility of following George Foreman’s example as an older heavyweight champion was raised, Wilder revealed an even more ambitious thought. “I’ve thought about that as well. Retiring at 50 as the champion.”

“I feel like I’m 19”

Wilder turned 41 in October, but he refuses to treat his age as a limitation. “Not at all. I feel like I’m 19,” he said when asked whether he was beginning to feel the effects of time. “Age is nothing but a number. We’re not getting old, we’re just getting older. What we can control is how we feel, what we eat and what we put into our bodies.”

He insists he remains in good enough physical condition to compete with much younger athletes, both in the gym and at home. Even his sons, he joked, have to team up against him when they play basketball. “They have to play two against one against me. They have no chance at all!” For Wilder, maintaining that competitive edge is as much about discipline and mental clarity as it is about physical training.

Wilder backs Dubois and questions the future of American heavyweights

Turning to the wider heavyweight division, Wilder singled out Daniel Dubois as one of the boxers he believes could eventually unify the world titles. “I really like that kid. I like how he’s developing and where he is now. He’s still young and has a lot more room to develop. I could actually see him unifying. I really can.”

Wilder also spoke about the difficulties facing American heavyweight boxing, arguing that the country’s problems begin long before talented boxers reach the professional ranks. “We don’t have a strong amateur programme, if we have one at all any more,” he said. “A lot of fighters want to turn professional so fast instead of developing and learning. You’ve got to have a strong foundation first and foremost.”

He believes that promising boxers are also being held back by problems outside the ring. “There are a lot of great fighters you’ll never get to see because of bad management, being in court, bad promotion or not being able to get fights.”

Wilder knows how difficult the journey can be. His own career took him through modest and sometimes unlikely venues before he became a world champion. “I fought one time in a strip club. They still had the stripper poles in the dressing room. That’s a real story.” Those experiences have shaped his understanding of the sport and the opportunities that can be lost along the way.

“I brought it back once, and I’m going to do it again”

Despite his admiration for some of today’s leading heavyweights, Wilder believes the division is missing the excitement that once surrounded his own rise to prominence. He is convinced he still has something to contribute – and has no intention of returning simply to make up the numbers.

“I’ve got one more run. One more go to bring it back to the top again.”

Then came the clearest statement of his ambitions. ‘Boxing is boring and dead again in the heavyweight division, for sure. I brought it back once, and I’m going to do it again. Mark my words.’

Whether that final run includes a meeting with Gassiev remains to be seen. No agreement has been announced, but Wilder’s enthusiasm for the match-up is unmistakable.

For a boxer who has built his reputation on spectacular knockouts and an unwavering belief in his own power, the motivation remains familiar: another chance to prove that he belongs among the world’s best.

“We’re coming back, baby. Two-time heavyweight champion. Another one. We’ll see you soon.”

Watch the full interview with Deontay Wilder on IBA official YouTube channel