Oleksandr Usyk is in the market for an opponent for his retirement fight, and UFC legend Jon Jones is one name that has been reported as an option.
Usyk’s last outing was met with criticism both before and after the event, as the then unified heavyweight ruler faced 1-0-recorded Rico Verhoeven, only for Verhoeven to provide a much tougher test than anticipated before being controversially stopped in round 11.
The Ukrainian great has opted to vacate all three of his heavyweight belts, but has said that he will remain in the sport for one ‘last dance’ before retirement.
Deontay Wilder has been considered the frontrunner to be in the opposite corner, but Jones and a rematch with Verhoeven are amongst the other possibilities that have been mentioned.
Speaking with Ring Magazine, however, Jones ruled himself out of a boxing match with Usyk, only willing if it were to take place under MMA rules.
“No, [I am not interested] not at all. Usyk is Usyk, man, he is one of the absolute GOAT’s of heavyweight boxing.
“I also am aware that he does wrestling and that wrestling has been a heavy part of his training for many years, that is probably why he is so dominant in the clinch.
“If he would like to test his total combat skills, I would oblige him in that, but to handicap myself by only using my hands – that is just not the world that I come from.
“Out of all of the heavyweight boxers, I do see Usyk as having the highest potential [in MMA] and making it competitive, but I am no boxer and I don’t really consider Usyk to be a complete fighter.
“I think that the world knows what would happen if we were locked in the same room and I’ll just leave it at that.”
News on Usyk’s farewell fight is expected in the coming months, with Wilder’s team saying they are open to making it happen.
