UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has stipulated he will only fight Oleksandr Usyk in a potential crossover bout if it is contested under MMA rules. Jones dismissed the idea of a pure boxing match against the Ukrainian, who is seeking a high-profile opponent for his retirement fight.
Usyk recently vacated his three heavyweight world titles following a difficult victory over Rico Verhoeven and has stated his intention to have one final contest. While Deontay Wilder is considered the leading candidate, Jones’s name has been part of the conversation. Speaking to Ring Magazine, Jones clarified his position on facing one of boxing’s pound-for-pound best.
He explained his unwillingness to compete in a boxing ring, acknowledging Usyk’s credentials while asserting his own multi-disciplinary strengths. “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.” Jones did, however, credit Usyk’s background and potential adaptability. “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.”
Despite this respect, Jones drew a clear line between a boxer with wrestling experience and a complete mixed martial artist. He views the Ukrainian as having the most potential among boxers to transition to the sport but stopped short of seeing him as a true threat in the octagon. “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.”
Jones concluded with a confident assessment of how a true mixed martial arts contest would unfold. “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.”
With Jones demanding MMA rules, the likelihood of this particular superfight diminishes. The focus for Usyk’s final opponent now returns to the boxing world, where Deontay Wilder’s team has expressed openness to negotiations for the farewell bout.
