Apr 12, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; UFC fighter Alex Pereira during ceremonial weigh ins for UFC 300 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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Alex Pereira vs. Oleksandr Usyk Fight Gets Wings With Dana White’s Recent Endeavour!

Alex Pereira's dream of making his boxing fight against a well known opponent close to coming true with Dana White's venture!

Apr 12, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; UFC fighter Alex Pereira during ceremonial weigh ins for UFC 300 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Fighters have dreamed of testing themselves across disciplines. Boxing and MMA have shared a complicated relationship over the years. The two sports often competed for viewership and talent. They also occasionally borrowed from each other’s playbooks. Yet rarely did the biggest names cross over between the sports.

That all changed when Conor McGregor faced Floyd Mayweather in 2017. The bout shattered financial records and opened eyes to new possibilities. UFC light heavyweight champion Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira might just be the next UFC superstar to step into the boxing ring.

Also Read: ‘Don’t Think He Makes It Out The First Round’ – Former MW Champion Shares His Thoughts On Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313

Alex Pereira Excited For Dana White’s New Venture

The UFC light heavyweight champion couldn’t hide his excitement after hearing about Dana White’s groundbreaking deal with Saudi Arabia combat sports promoter Turki Alalshikh. He revealed that this could make his boxing dream come true.

“I was hyped when I saw the announcement. Maybe September. Saudi Arabia. I was the first to show interest, and then Usyk showed interest. And now we have to see the interest of the organizations. I will be ready,” Pereira admitted during the UFC 313 media day.

Alex Pereira just called for a boxing match against Oleksandr Usyk in September 😱 pic.twitter.com/HMyELWPhzE
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) March 6, 2025

This revelation comes just days before Pereira defends his light heavyweight title against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 in Las Vegas. What makes this situation particularly intriguing is Pereira’s potential opponent is none other than heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk.

The Ukrainian boxer is widely regarded as one of the most technically gifted fighters on the planet. Pereira pointed out that the interest is mutual. The matchup would pit two of combat sports’ most feared strikers against each other in a clash of styles that has fight fans salivating. Pereira’s devastating left hook against Usyk’s masterful footwork and technique would certainly sell tickets.

Pereira’s boxing ambitions come at an interesting point in his career. The former kickboxing champion has already captured UFC titles in two weight classes. His thunderous knockouts of his opponents catapulted him to stardom. At 37 years old, Alex Pereira likely sees a limited window to maximize his earning potential.

Dana White’s Entry Into The Boxing World

Dana White’s entry into boxing promotion marks a shift in his long-standing position. For years, White criticized boxing’s business model and promotional tactics. He frequently boasted that the UFC consistently delivered the best fights while boxing often failed to match fan expectations.

Now, with TKO Group Holdings partnering with Saudi Arabia’s combat sports powerbrokers, White finds himself in position to potentially reshape the boxing landscape. His motto for the new venture seems straightforward – “The best will fight the best.”

Dana White and Turki Alalshikh just announced a new boxing league 🤯

"The best will fight the best"
pic.twitter.com/SajT0USUND
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 5, 2025

While McGregor-Mayweather set the bar incredibly high pay-per-view buys, a Pereira-Usyk matchup would bring its own unique appeal. Both men would enter the ring in their competitive primes. Saudi Arabia’s willingness to financially back such spectacles makes the once-impossible suddenly very possible. Combat sports fans might want to start saving for those possible September tickets, just in case this dream fight suddenly grew wings!

(Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – Imagn Images)

Alex Pereira

Dana White

Oleksandr Usyk

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!