UFC light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira is expressing a keen interest in stepping into the boxing ring to face heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. Known for his striking prowess, Pereira, who has been out of competition since his title defense against Khalil Rountree in October, is making waves with this crossover ambition. At UFC 307, he secured a stunning fourth-round knockout to retain his title and is set for his next bout against Magomed Ankalaev in March.
During a recent appearance on the JAXXON Podcast, Pereira revealed his aspirations for a boxing match. He has openly discussed the desire to transition into boxing over the past year and previously showed interest in fighting YouTube sensation Jake Paul. However, that matchup has been sidelined due to Paul’s ongoing disputes with UFC president Dana White.
Yet, Pereira’s ambitions extend beyond Paul. He is targeting Usyk, the former undisputed heavyweight champion, who recently achieved a unanimous decision victory against Tyson Fury, marking his second consecutive win over the ‘Gypsy King.’
Insight from Pereira’s Team
In the podcast, Pereira’s coach and translator noted the challenges of making this boxing match a reality due to Pereira’s UFC contract. He acknowledged, “We know [Conor] McGregor did it, but we’re not sure how Alex could navigate this.” The coach emphasized that Pereira, as a champion, wishes to compete against other champions, highlighting Usyk as an ideal opponent. “He believes he could perform well in boxing. It’s a significant part of his skill set,” he added.
Challenges of Transitioning to Boxing
While the UFC has previously allowed fighters to participate in boxing matches—most notably McGregor’s high-profile bout against Floyd Mayweather in 2017—there remains skepticism about active fighters pursuing boxing careers. Although some exceptions have been made, such as Jorge Masvidal’s match against Nate Diaz, the organization generally prefers to keep its athletes focused on mixed martial arts.
As discussions around a potential fight between Pereira and Usyk continue, fans are left to wonder if this crossover will ever materialize. The MMA community is buzzing with anticipation, eagerly awaiting news on whether Pereira will indeed take this bold step into boxing.
