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Usyk proves to be the key to Dana White’s heavyweight debut

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Oleksandr Usyk pictured in New York at the Lopez vs Stevenson fight, seated ringside in casual attire during the event.

The heavyweight division doesn’t need another belt. This much is obvious.

Zuffa Boxing, as it prepares to introduce its own championship in the sport’s flagship weight, will immediately ask the same question that fans have been asking themselves for years: how many titles does one division need?

But it’s not just about putting another strip into circulation. It’s about who can fight for it and what it will mean for the power structure at the top.

The current landscape is already complicated. The unified champions sit next to the interim title holders. Mandates wait their turn while politics and broadcasting alliances dictate the times. For most fans, clarity only exists on fight night.

Adding the Zuffa heavyweight bar risks stretching this image further if the right name isn’t given from the start.

Ajagba is the logical leader

Efe Ajagba strengthened his case with a stoppage victory over former IBF champion Charles Martin at UFC Apex. In terms of moving up, building his own internal ladder, Ajagba makes sense as a top contender.

He is dynamic. He’s getting better. He has real knockout power and now has a recognizable former titleholder under the Zuffa banner.

If the promotion continued and Ajagba was its number one contender, few would question the logic of the selection.

The problem is not credibility within Zuffa’s structure. That’s credibility across the department.

Zuffa boxing

The Usyk factor changes the conversation

This is where the story changes.

Oleksandr Usyk is currently between mandatory duties. After Deontay Wilder left the path to the WBC title, Usyk may take a voluntary fight before fighting Agit Kabayel.

This window is significant and could be huge for Zuffa and Dana White.

If the former pound-for-pound king wanted to add another layer to his legacy, becoming Zuffa’s inaugural heavyweight champion would not be a secondary consideration. It would be a calculated move that would add extra weight to a Hall of Fame career.

Usyk has already done it twice – completely unified the heavyweight titles and transformed the division’s hierarchy. Winning Zuffa’s first belt wouldn’t replace those achievements, but it would place him at the center of a recent commercial structure before it was fully formed.

On Zuffa’s side, the appeal is obvious. White starting his first major heavyweight championship event outside of the Apex environment with Usyk taking part would immediately elevate the belt beyond “startup” status.

Ajagba brings danger and familiarity to Zuffa fans. Usyk brings legitimacy and history.

Together, the belt gains immediate significance, but only if White, Zuffa and TKO act quickly.

Risk and reward for everyone

The downside to any White advance towards Usyk would be that the sanctioning bodies will closely guard their position.

Voluntary competition for a recent promotional title may be explored depending on the timing. Usyk will have to balance responsibilities with opportunities, especially considering Kabayel will be the next significant step in his journey.

Financially, Zuffa would need to present an offer sturdy enough to justify this calculation.

If Usyk is not involved, the introduction of another heavyweight championship will be seen as further fragmentation. If he is involved, the narrative changes.

The belt won’t feel like an addition to the clutter. It would be like a land grab at just the right moment and would leave one single champion in place in all areas.

That’s the difference.

The heavyweight division has always been defined by fights, not organizational charts. If Zuffa secures one of these fights immediately, the recent belt will become part of history.

If not, the confusion argument will only get louder.


About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN), boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.

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Roy Jones Jr sums up Tyson Fury’s chances of beating top-ranked Lennox Lewis

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Roy Jones Jr sums up Tyson Fury’s chances of beating a prime Lennox Lewis

Britain has produced some great heavyweights in recent years, ending an almost century-long curse and seeing success in the division ever since. Predicting the outcome of the clash between two of the best fighters in the country, Lennox Lewis and Tyson Fury, Roy Jones Jr said it would be a “great fight”.

Bob Fitzsimmons became the first British world heavyweight champion in 1897, and he and Jones remain the only two fighters in boxing history to have won both middleweight and heavyweight world titles.

However, Great Britain struggled for success in the division after the Fitzsimmons fight, unable to claim heavyweight supremacy until Lennox Lewis became WBC world champion in 1992. Britain has since crowned its title 11th world heavyweight championFabio Wardley, who follows in the footsteps of Fury and Anthony Joshua.

In an interview with Grosvenor CasinoJones said he would give Lewis an advantage over the “Gypsy King” if they met in their prime.

“Tyson Fury vs. Lennox Lewis? That would be a great fight, but my first thought was Lennox Lewis because of his power. But my second thought was also that Tyson Fury was great at making adjustments. I would go with Lennox Lewis.”

At least one heavyweight world title is expected to remain in a Briton’s hands for some time, with Daniel Dubois scheduled to face another Briton, Fabio Wardley, for the WBO belt next month.

In the meantime, we hope 21-year-old Moses Itauma can continue Britain’s success for many years to come, with the youngster considered by many to be the hottest prospect in boxing.

As for Fury, he is focused on the UK-wide megafight with Joshua – their own ‘Battle of Britain’ after Lennox fought Frank Bruno in 1993.

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Jermell Charlo says Derrick James has changed with fame

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Image: Jermell Charlo says Derrick James changed as success grew

“Derrick James, he started getting a little more players and a little more buzz, and I feel like our communication has changed,” Charlo told Brian Custer.

Charlo said that as James built a larger stable, there was less hands-on time spent with him and more trying to control the gym environment. He claimed that James wanted things done his way, including telling players to remove dogs from the gym during training sessions and changing the atmosphere that helped build their success.

Charlo has been out of the ring since his loss to Saul Alvarez in 2023, and James recently split from Errol Spence Jr. A coach once considered one of the safest hands in the sport is suddenly facing public criticism from two of his biggest names.

“He wanted it his way,” Charlo said. “Coach needs us. Don’t overdo it, coach. Serene down, coach. I was your first champion.”

He also pointed to his camp leading up to the Alvarez fight, saying the support around him wasn’t the same when he needed it most.

“You don’t enter into a world title fight like that,” Charlo said.

Charlo still believes he can regain his spot in the junior middleweight division, and talks about a possible fight with Sebastian Fundora are ongoing later this year. His confidence hasn’t changed, but his patience with ancient alliances has noticeably changed. Sometimes a rift begins when success changes the room.

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Prince Naseem Hamed predicts Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua fight: ‘It’s going to sound crazy’

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Prince Naseem Hamed predicts Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua: “This is going to sound mad”

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua look set to face each other later this year in what could be one of the biggest British boxing events of all time.

Another British legend, Naseem Hamed, presented the course of the fight in a surprising way.

Fury had his ring returned within a a decision victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov earlier this monthshaking off ring rust at the age of 37 and allegedly preparing for a showdown with Joshua that the “Gypsy King” was set to take place this summer.

However, ‘AJ’ instead maintained that he would prefer a warm-up fight first, with the Londoner expected to return to action in July, ahead of a long-awaited meeting with his arch-rival in November.

I’m talking to talkSPORT BoxingHamed was looking forward to this match and suggested that a draw could be on the cards.

“Who do I think will win the fight between AJ and Fury? Well, that is the question and everyone wants to know.

“Years ago, Tyson had this awkward style for me where he could make AJ look stupid, that’s true. Now everything has changed. Tyson seemed to have backed off a little bit.

“But with Tyson Fury you never know, maybe one night he’ll show up and box amazingly and do what he did to Wilder. Those first few rounds [against Makhmudov]I was a little disappointed that he didn’t go from the start.

“This is going to sound crazy to you, but would it be unbelievable if I said it could be a draw?”

It is unclear whether Fury will also fight in the summer or whether he will avoid risking a lucrative romance with Joshua and wait patiently on the sidelines.

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