According to information provided by foreign sources, Dana White, head of the UFC, is in negotiations with Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk regarding his potential participation in the new boxing promotion Zuffa Boxing.
The official launch of Zuffa Boxing, created by White, is scheduled for this Friday in Las Vegas at the UFC Apex arena. Despite cautious expectations for the debut event, White continues to actively build the team and strategy. One of the first significant steps was the signing of Jai Opetaia, the world champion in the cruiserweight division, and a potential collaboration with Usyk could become an important milestone for promoting the new venture.
Sergiy Lapin, Usyk's sports director, confirmed the existence of negotiations with Dana White in an interview with TalkSport. "We are in touch, discussing details, and there is interest. We can't disclose all the information yet, but some opportunities are open. If the conditions, format, and timelines align, it could lead to unexpected results," Lapin noted.
Oleksandr Usyk parted ways with his former promoter Alex Krasyuk before the fight with Daniel Dubois in August 2025 and has not stepped into the ring since then. Although he lost the WBO title outside of boxing, many experts continue to consider him the de facto undisputed champion in the heavyweight division.
If Usyk transitions to Zuffa Boxing, a potential opponent could be Deontay Wilder. A victory over fighters like Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua would make a fight with Wilder decisive in confirming Usyk's status as the dominant boxer of his time.
Finalizing a deal with Usyk would be one of the most significant events at the launch of Zuffa Boxing and could substantially alter the balance of power in the boxing world.
