Sadly, the opponent I heard mentioned around the internet is Jake Paul. But, as it is a new sport to him, he would have a right to start with some low-hanging fruit. Usyk was doing Judo and wresting before he was a boxer, so, it he wanted to continue from there and be serious, I think it would be a good thing for him. Leave his boxing legacy behind, and look for new mountains to climb.
He's 38 years old. I highly doubt he's going to do this, even for a one off fight. It's possible, I suppose, but I doubt it. There have been a lot of boxers and former boxers who have discussed trying mma but very few of them ever have. Those who did try it were usually in a bad financial situation or not in the right frame of mind (or body) to be fighting anybody in any sport (i.e. Mayorga, James Toney, etc). Usyk's probably just using this to shrewdly build up some additional interest for his retirement boxing fight.
He has the background for it This content is protected If the money is right I can see him doing it as a one off. If the money will be right is the question though.
just no. There’s no point in him doing this. He’s just made retirement money for his last two fights, and his next will pad it. that said, whatever training he’s done has served him well. Look how it goes when opponents try to grab him. It mostly doesn’t work. He’s quite good at defending against / avoiding a clinch he doesn’t want.
The money won’t be right. MMA fighters come to boxing to get paid, it doesn’t work the other way around - unless the boxers are at a stage in their career when they’re irrelevant in boxing.
Seems highly unlikely. Hes 38 years old and making tens of millions in boxing. Going to MMA is higher risk for a lower payday.
Usyk doesn't have to get paid a low salary because it's mma. there is nothing stopping a boxing promotion that pays boxing money from doing an mma event, he's not obligated to fight under the ufc or pfl. I actually think that the biggest threat to ufc or PFL or any mma org is a boxing promotion putting on big name money fights with mma rules. I do think this is just a promotion for the film the smashing machine with the rock, he's playing igor vovchanchyn.
He's also not a boxer who you think would carry in a particular strength for MMA. The big thing you'd think a boxer would bring to MMA would be striking; Usyk just has average power. One of the guys who can really crack would be more of a danger. For anyone who says this is crazy, go check out Ray Mercer's one MMA fight. Sylvia found out in 9 seconds why you don't rush at a boxer who can hit. If he had closed without getting sparked, he'd probably have got Mercer to tap out pretty quick. Instead he got cracked right on the jaw and that was that.
