According to information from foreign media, Dana White is in negotiations with Oleksandr Usyk, who is the unified world champion in the heavyweight division. This information has been confirmed by representatives of the Ukrainian boxer.
The new boxing promotion Zuffa Boxing, created under White's leadership, will officially launch this Friday at the UFC Apex arena in Las Vegas. Despite moderate interest in the first show, White is actively working on building a team and strategy for his project. One of the first significant steps was signing cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia, and a potential collaboration with Usyk could be pivotal for the promotion.
Sergiy Lapin, Usyk's sports director, confirmed in an interview with TalkSport that they have established contact with Dana White. He noted: "The connection is established, dialogue is happening, and there is interest. While details are not disclosed, some opportunities are open. If the terms of the deal align, the market may witness an unexpected turn of events."
Oleksandr Usyk severed ties with his former promoter Alex Krasyuk before the fight with Daniel Dubois in August 2025 and has not stepped into the ring since. Despite losing the WBO title outside the ring, many experts still consider Usyk the de facto undisputed champion in the heavyweight division.
If Usyk signs a contract with Zuffa Boxing, one of his potential opponents could be Deontay Wilder. After victories over Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, a fight with Wilder could solidify Usyk's status as the dominant boxer of his time.
If the deal is successfully completed, Usyk's signing would be the most significant transfer at the start of Zuffa Boxing and could fundamentally change the balance of power in world boxing.
