Jon Jones Rules Out Boxing Oleksandr Usyk As Wilder Talks Continue

Jon Jones has ruled out facing Oleksandr Usyk in a boxing match, pushing Deontay Wilder further into focus as the leading option for Usyk’s proposed farewell fight in the United States.

Usyk has been exploring a final major event after vacating the WBA ‘Super’, WBC and IBF heavyweight titles, with his team in discussions with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing over a possible fight with Wilder. Jones had emerged as a crossover alternative, but the former UFC light-heavyweight and heavyweight champion has made clear that he is not prepared to meet Usyk under traditional boxing rules.

Speaking to The Ring, Jones said: “No, I am not interested. Not at all. I’m gonna pass. Usyk is Usyk, man. He’s one of the absolute goats 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. It’s probably why he’s so dominant in the clinch. If he’d like to test his total combat skills, I would oblige him in that. But to handicap myself by only using my hands, I mean, that’s just not the world that I come from.”

Jones added: “Out of all of the heavyweight boxers, I do see Usyk having the highest potential and making it competitive. But I am no boxer and I don’t really consider Usyk to be a complete fighter. I think the world knows what would happen if we were locked in the same room, and I’ll just leave it at that. The way I respect him in the ring, he should respect me in that cage.”

The comments are significant because Usyk’s team had left Jones in the conversation alongside Wilder for what the Ukrainian has described as his last dance. Usyk, 39, is unbeaten in 25 professional fights and has stepped away from title obligations rather than proceed with another ordered defence, with former WBC interim champion Agit Kabayel since upgraded to full champion.

Wilder remains the clearest route for Usyk

Wilder, 40, is understood to be the frontrunner for the fight. Usyk’s team director, Sergey Lapin, told BBC Sport: “Usyk has already stated that he sees Deontay Wilder as the opponent for his last dance. It is a match-up with significant potential from a sporting, media and international perspective.”

Wilder is no longer the fighter who held the WBC heavyweight title and built a reputation as one of the division’s most dangerous punchers, but he remains one of the most recognisable American heavyweights available. He returned to the win column in April with a split-decision victory over Derek Chisora, moving to 45 wins from 50 fights, with 43 stoppages among those victories. His manager, Shelly Finkel, told BBC Sport: “If Deontay is offered a fight with Usyk, he would take it.”

Zuffa Boxing has been considered as a possible partner for the event as White’s boxing project, backed by Saudi Arabian funding, attempts to operate outside the traditional sanctioning-body structure by recognising its own champions. Lapin said talks are active but not at the point of a completed agreement: “We are in direct discussions with Zuffa Boxing at the highest level. At this stage, no agreements have been signed.”

Lapin added: “Zuffa Boxing is being considered as one of the potential partners for a major international event. The final structure will be determined based on what is in the best interests of the fight, the fighters, and the overall scale of the project.”

Usyk’s decision to vacate followed his controversial 11th-round stoppage of kickboxing great Rico Verhoeven in May. Verhoeven, who had boxed only once before, pushed Usyk deep into the fight and calls for a rematch followed, but Usyk’s side has instead prioritised a US event built around either Wilder or, until Jones’ latest comments, a crossover fight with one of MMA’s biggest names.

Jones open to fighting, but not boxing Usyk

Jones has not fought since stopping Stipe Miocic in defence of the UFC heavyweight title in November 2024. He has had a public dispute with the UFC over being excluded from the White House card, exchanged words with Dana White and asked for his release from his contract to pursue other opportunities, but his latest comments suggest any return would need to make sense within a broader combat-sports framework.

He told The Ring: “When it comes to me actually fighting anyone, I just keep the door open. I’m still in the UFC’s drug testing pool. I get drug tested and blood tested all the time. The door is open. I’m just allowing time to fly by focusing on somebody else. If I get that call, or a tug from higher powers, then I’m going to have to answer that call. But right now, I feel like I’m in the right place, which is serving someone else.”

Jones said his current focus is coaching UFC heavyweight prospect Gable Steveson, but he also noted that his UFC status remains active enough for fight offers to arrive. “As long as I’m in the drug testing pool, the UFC is contractually obligated to offer me a few fights a year. I haven’t heard anything from them in a while. But I just take it as it comes. I take it one day at a time. Right now, my main focus is just being a good dad, being a good family man, staying on top of my businesses and endorsements, and making sure Gable is improving. That’s just where life is at right now, you know. When I get offered to fight, that’s going to be great. And we’ll see how I feel when that time comes. But, yeah, things are great.”

On his relationship with White, Jones said the tension has not closed the door on future business. “In order to do big business, you can’t hold grudges. You have to let bygones be bygones. You have to be able to work with people that you don’t love. I’ve made Dana millions of dollars over the years, and he’s made me millions of dollars over the years. It’s not always about how you feel about a person. It’s just like, can we still work together? Can we still do business together? I feel like we’re always going to be able to make money together. Will I be invited to his house on Christmas? Probably not. But the guy changed my life, and he is a homie for life. And despite how he feels about me, I’m always going to give him that respect.”

Jones also said his health is generally good, while acknowledging lingering physical issues. “My overall health is great, mentally, spiritually, and physically. I feel really good. I’m really happy. Business is going good. My kids are doing great. God’s been really good to me. I feel great.” He added: “I do have arthritis.”

The immediate focus now shifts back to Usyk’s talks with Zuffa Boxing and the Wilder option. Lapin has already said America is “the most logical option”, but the venue, date, broadcaster and promotional structure still have to be agreed before Usyk’s final fight can be formally announced.