World heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk says he would “consider” participating in Dana White’s new boxing venture should the opportunity arise.
Usyk, who underscored his status as this generation’s finest heavyweight boxer with a second successive win over Tyson Fury last December, backed White’s move into the sport which comes in tandem with the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority Turki Alalshikh and WWE president Nick Khan under the TKO Group umbrella.
The venture is expected to follow a similar business model to the UFC and has been reported to launch in September with a high profile clash between world champions Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford.
And given the heights that the boxing league is shooting for, it seems likely that unified champion Usyk will be on their list of targets too — and he seems more than open to any such proposal.
“Amazing, amazing idea. I think His Excellency is doing a lot for the sport,” Usyk said in comments reported by Al Arabiya News. “It is wonderful that new initiatives are created and I support it. Many people think things may not work, but it is important to do new things. Always.
He added: “I am not against it, but I haven’t been invited to participate in this league. But if such a proposal comes through, my team and I will seriously consider it.”
It has been reported that Usyk, 37, wants to participate in two more fights before calling time on his career. He has been ordered by the WBO to come to terms of a title defence against New Zealand’s Joseph Parker, who defeated Martin Bukole in a short notice bout in recent weeks.
That move is a stumbling block to what appeared to be Usyk’s next contest: a rematch with Daniel Dubois, whom he defeated in September 2023.
