“There is dialogue and there is interest.” Lapin told talkSPORT Bet. “Details are not currently made public. Let’s assume a few doors are open and if the format, numbers and timing match, the market could see a move that no one expects.”

The language is cautious, there is nothing certain about it and it does not resemble a signature. However, work on this possibility is ongoing, which means that the talks have moved forward.

What Dana White brings

White’s record in the UFC is famed. He moved mixed martial arts from regional performances to stadium events, offering broadcasts across the continent. The model works because it places athletes in a controlled structure, with one promoter, one vision and a predictable schedule. Boxing has never worked this way and White knows it.

“Everyone saw what Dana White did. He transformed the elderly MMA into the global UFC machine,” Lapin said.

“They are in talks and negotiations with Deontay Wilder, but at the moment there are no final decisions and nothing has been signed. We are acting calmly and professionally. When everything is agreed, it will be officially announced. We are only considering the biggest and most logical options, fights that really create an event, not just another name.

“Several top heavyweights are on the call, but the shortlist changes depending on belts, time, dates and broadcast structure. Our position is uncomplicated. If it’s a fight, it has to be substantial.”

Zuffa Boxing starts on Friday with Callum Walsh fighting Carlos Ocampo in Las Vegas. The biggest signing so far is cruiserweight titleholder Jai Opetaia. Usyk, if he joined, would change the importance of the entire operation. A three-belt heavyweight would give White instant credibility for the project.

Lapin’s comment about White’s ability to “package not just a fight, but an event” reflects what is already known. White builds around the players, not for them. Whether Usyk fits into this mold depends on how much control he is willing to trade for scale.

Wilder, Kabayel and the shortlist

Wilder remains in the conversation despite losing three of his last five fights. His name still attracts attention even though his defense and durability have declined. A fight with Oleksandr Usyk would sell, but it wouldn’t add much to the test. Wilder’s strength remains. His footwork is not.

Lapin also mentioned Agit Kabayel as another option.

“There are no protected opponents in today’s heavyweight division. Every top-class fighter is a threat,” Lapin said. “Kabayel is definitely a possible option. We see how Germany reacts to these fights, the stadiums they can fill and how powerful this market is. Stylistically it could be complex too. Pressure, pace, physicality. It would be a substantial European fight with a lot of business potential.”

Kabayel is undefeated, methodical and robust. Presses without overcommitting and works behind a jab that keeps opponents at bay. Germany has proven that it will pack heavyweight arenas, and Kabayel represents a fight that is regional in nature without demanding unification. This is a safer commercial move than Wilder, even if he lacks the same appeal.

What will happen next

Lapin’s cautious wording indicates that Usyk’s team is weighing its options and not rushing into anything.

White’s involvement could simplify parts of the process or complicate it further, depending on how much influence sanctioning authorities allow him to have. Zuffa Boxing does not yet have the infrastructure to call the shots in the same way the UFC does with mixed martial arts. Boxing’s fragmented ecosystem resists central control, and Usyk’s position at the top of the division makes him a target for any promoter trying to build something.

Whether Usyk ends up fighting at Zuffa Boxing, iV Boxing or elsewhere depends on what his team values ​​more. White offers reach and scale, and control is still negotiable.