Oleksandr Usyk could be headed for a surprising new chapter in his boxing career, with talks reportedly underway between the unified heavyweight champion and Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing.
According to Usyk’s team director, Sergey Lapin, discussions have already taken place with White as the UFC president prepares to launch Zuffa Boxing this Friday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The development comes months after Oleksandr Usyk split from longtime promoter Alexander Krassyuk of K2 Promotions in June, shortly before his rematch win over Daniel Dubois. Since then, the Ukrainian star has operated as a free agent.
Zuffa Boxing is co-owned by Saudi powerbroker Turki Alalshikh, a familiar figure in Oleksandr Usyk’s recent career. Usyk has worked with Alalshikh on his last three fights, making a potential move to the new promotion a logical step as he enters the latter stage of his career as the unified WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight champion.
“There is contact, there is dialogue, and interest exists [from Dana White and Zuffa Boxing],” Lapin told talkSPORT Bet.
Lapin made it clear that nothing is finalized yet, but the door remains open.
“Details aren’t for the public right now,” he said. “Let’s say a few doors are open, and if format, numbers, and timing align, the market could see a move nobody expects.”
Lapin also highlighted why Dana White’s involvement could be a game-changer for Oleksandr Usyk and the sport of boxing as a whole.
“Everyone has seen what he did,” Lapin said. “He turned ‘old MMA’ into the global UFC machine. His real power is packaging not just a fight, but an event. If he gets involved, the scale and attention immediately become different.”
Dana White is set to unveil Zuffa Boxing with its debut event at the Apex, though early reactions from fans have been mixed due to the modest scale of the launch card. Still, White has already signaled serious long-term intent, most notably by signing cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia.
Now, the possibility of adding Oleksandr Usyk, the man many regard as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, would instantly elevate Zuffa Boxing’s profile. While nothing is official, the talks alone suggest that Dana White is aiming big, and Oleksandr Usyk may be central to those ambitions.
