Jon Jones open to MMA bout with Usyk but dismisses boxing as self-handicapping

Jon Jones has rejected the idea of fighting Oleksandr Usyk in a boxing ring, but told Ring Magazine he would be willing to face the former unified heavyweight champion in an MMA contest — a format he believes would expose Usyk’s limitations as a combat sports all-rounder.

The comments follow a report from Usyk’s advisor, Sergey Lapin, that the Ukrainian — who vacated his IBA, WBC and WBA heavyweight boxing titles last month — is considering Jones and Deontay Wilder as potential opponents for one final fight before retiring.

Jones (28-1) was direct about his reluctance to enter the squared circle. “Not at all [interested]. Usyk is Usyk, man,” he said. “He is one of the absolute GOATs of heavyweight boxing. I also am aware that he does wrestling, and wrestling has been a heavy part of his training for many years, probably why he is so dominant in the clinch. 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’s not the world that I come from.”

Jones was candid about his own boxing credentials, acknowledging he does not consider himself an elite striker with his hands. But he was equally blunt about Usyk’s standing outside the boxing ring. “I’m no boxer. And I don’t consider Usyk to be a complete fighter. I think the world knows what would happen if we were locked in the same room,” he added.

The UFC heavyweight champion’s acknowledgement of Usyk’s wrestling background is notable. The Ukrainian has long incorporated grappling into his preparation, a factor Jones credits for Usyk’s effectiveness in the clinch during boxing bouts. Whether that translates to MMA-level competence against one of the sport’s most decorated wrestlers is a different question — one Jones clearly believes he already knows the answer to.

Usyk’s team has not publicly confirmed any specific opponent or timeline for the proposed farewell fight, and no formal negotiations between the two camps have been reported.