Heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk’s main focus is a
rematch against Daniel
Dubois, but he is keeping his options open beyond that.
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“Dubois is our priority, because he has the belt,” said childhood
friend and Team Usyk member Sergey
Lapin in an interview with OLBG. “We are waiting for the date of the fight
with Dubois. We assume it will take place in Riyadh or London, one
of the world capitals of boxing and Usyk will once again prove that
he is the best fighter of our generation.”
Widely regarded as one of the top pound-for-pound boxers in the
world, Usyk currently holds heavyweight titles with the IBO, WBC
and WBO sanctioning bodies. The 38-year-old Ukrainian owns a 23-0
career record in the Sweet Science and is coming off back-to-back
triumphs over Tyson Fury.
He previously defeated Daniel
Dubois via ninth-round knockout in August 2023. Dubois
currently holds the IBF heavyweight crown.
What might interest combat sports fans outside of the boxing realm
is Usyk’s potential plans for the future.
“Usyk has always cared only about fighting the best and creating a
lasting legacy in the great sport of boxing,” Lapin said. “But in
the future, as he further solidifies his place as one of the true
great fighters, we’ll see what other opportunities open up for
him.”
Opportunities that could be of interest to Usyk include making his
mixed martial arts debut against Jake Paul or
squaring off against former
UFC two-division champion Alex
Pereira.
“It might be great to step into the cage with Jake Paul under MMA
rules — it would be interesting if there is money to be made from
it,” Lapin said. “Also, we never say never about fighting the
dangerous Alex Pereira, possibly partnered with Dana White.”
It’s probably no coincidence that Lapin’s statement comes on the
heels of the news that White will also making the leap into boxing.
It was
recently announced that UFC parent company TKO Group Holdings,
Turki Alalshikh and entertainment conglomerate Sela will be
partnering to launch a new boxing league. White, the UFC CEO, is
expected to provide executive leadership for the organization.
That could, in turn, create a pathway for Usyk — and other boxers —
to explore crossover options like the aforementioned fights against
Paul and Pereira.
“Dana’s move to boxing could open the door for more fights between
boxers and current UFC stars,” Lapin said. “Dana is a capable guy,
and with Turki’s abilities, they would create a very interesting
project. It will bring attention to our great sport, expand the fan
base, attract new investment and possibly increase the purses of
the athletes.”