Alex Pereira Wants To Box Usyk – ‘I’m The Champ’

UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira wants a dream fight with Oleksandr Usyk.
The two are considered the best fighters in the world in their respective sport. Pereira is a two-weight UFC World Champion, having secured titles at middleweight and light heavyweight. He is the current lightweight heavyweight champion after knocking out Khalil Rountree Jr. in his last fight at UFC 307. He will fight the Russian Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 in his next fight. Pereira has been linked with a boxing bout for some time. Speculation first emerged when Anthony Joshua proposed that Pereira should consider it.
Alex responded by asking who he should face off against. Jake Paul took the opportunity to call Pereira out after he stopped Mike Perry. Dana White responded immediately to reject any suggestions that a fight could be made. Pereira is under contract with the UFC, meaning they must endorse any fight. They did it when Conor McGregor took on Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2017. The fight sold over 4 million PPVs, making it one of the highest-grossing events of all time. It also earned McGregor a reported $100 million. Since then, Dana White has distanced himself from making any more crossover boxing fights.
But there is a chance that it could go ahead if Pereira has enough leverage. Usyk has questions to answer about his future. He defeated Tyson Fury in his last fight for the second time to retain his unified heavyweight titles. This was after he had become undisputed by beating Fury the first time. That made him a two-weight undisputed champion, having won all the belts at cruiserweight and heavyweight.
Pereira On Usyk
He has won everything in the sport, ranging from amateur level to Olympics, meaning there is not a lot left for him to do. Usyk has previously indicated that he would be open to having some form of a crossover bout after links with BKFC. A fight against Pereira could make sense, given that Pereira has skills as a kickboxer. Pereira also spars with heavyweights in boxing. The fight would arguably generate a huge amount of money, giving both fighters an incentive to do it. Pereira is hopeful he will be given that opportunity.
“I don’t know, I think anything is possible. It’s something I can’t plan, but it is something I would really like to do.That’s something that I really want. I’m under contract with the UFC. We know [Conor] McGregor did it. I don’t know how I would, but someday I would really like to do it. I’m the champ. I would like to fight the champ. So Oleksandr Usyk.
“I think it’s a very good fight. I love boxing. [And] I see some people talking, ‘Oh, if it were pure boxing he would be lost’. Man, when you talk pure boxing, I feel great. I think I could fight these guys out there. I’ve already done some sparring with experienced guys, Plinio [Cruz, his coach] knows it, and they’re winning everything there,” Pereira said
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