Zuffa Boxing makes its long-anticipated entry into the sport tomorrow night, but speculation over who Dana White may yet add to his roster has taken a dramatic turn in the build-up to the promotion’s inaugural show.
White is preparing for a busy weekend across combat sports, beginning on Friday night at the UFC’s Meta Apex in Las Vegas where Callum Walsh faces Carlos Ocampo in the main event of Zuffa Boxing’s first card. Twenty-four hours later, UK MMA star Paddy Pimblett headlines a UFC event against Justin Gaethje, with the interim lightweight title on the line.
Away from the ring and the Octagon, reports this week have suggested that White is exploring a move for boxing’s unified heavyweight champion and former two-time undisputed ruler Oleksandr Usyk.
Usyk’s immediate future remains unclear. The Ukrainian has been strongly linked to a summer title defence against Deontay Wilder in San Francisco as part of iVisit Boxing’s ambitious plans to reshape the sport, but that bout now appears unlikely with Wilder expected to face Derek Chisora in April.
Speaking on talkSPORT this week, Usyk team director Daniel Lapin confirmed that discussions have taken place with White but nothing has been signed, sealed and delivered.
White was asked directly about those talks at the Zuffa Boxing launch press conference and did little to pour cold water on the rumours.
“We’re talking to everybody that we think are the most talented people in the world, or who have the potential to be the most talented people in the world.”
Usyk — who is indeed considered the most talented fighter in the world — has not fought since regaining the undisputed heavyweight title last summer with his victory over Daniel Dubois. He has since vacated the WBO belt, elevating interim titleholder Fabio Wardley to full champion.
Zuffa Boxing raised eyebrows last week by announcing the signing of IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia, despite White’s insistence that the promotion will not work with boxing’s four sanctioning bodies — a stance that already appears increasingly difficult to reconcile with its early ambitions.
