Jon Jones Emerges as Potential Opponent for Usyk's Final Boxing Bout

Reports have emerged linking UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones to a potential crossover boxing match against Oleksandr Usyk, with the undefeated boxing heavyweight titleholder describing the contest as his "last dance." The pairing, which has not been officially confirmed, would see two of combat sports' most decorated figures meet under boxing rules.

Jones, nicknamed "Bones," carries a 28-1-0 MMA record and holds the UFC heavyweight title at 38 years old. Standing six-foot-four with an extraordinary 84-inch reach, the orthodox fighter has long been regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists in history. Inside the octagon, he lands 4.38 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate, while also averaging 1.89 takedowns per 15 minutes — tools that would be unavailable to him in a boxing format.

Usyk, 39, enters any conversation with a flawless 24-0-0 professional boxing record. The Ukrainian southpaw, representing the Ready To Fight team, stands six-foot-three with a 78-inch reach. He has established himself as the dominant force in heavyweight boxing, and framing this bout as a farewell fight underscores how seriously his camp appears to be weighing the spectacle value of the matchup.

Why it matters

• A crossover event of this scale would draw attention far beyond traditional MMA and boxing audiences.
• Jones would be competing exclusively under boxing rules, neutralizing his wrestling and grappling advantages.
• The reach and size matchup is relatively close on paper, with Jones holding a six-inch reach edge over Usyk.
• Usyk's southpaw stance and refined technical boxing would represent a challenge unlike anything Jones has faced in competition.

Because this story remains unconfirmed, the specifics of any agreement, timeline, or sanctioning body involvement are not yet established.