Oleksandr Usyk’s decision to vacate every heavyweight title left the boxing world searching for answers. Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing venture may provide at least one of them.

Eddie Hearn believes Usyk’s farewell fight will come against Deontay Wilder after the Ukrainian walked away from every championship instead of attempting to become a three-time undisputed heavyweight ruler.

Speaking after Jaron Ennis defeated Xander Zayas, Hearn suggested the motivation had less to do with any individual opponent and more to do with escaping the sanctioning bodies altogether.

“He’ll just go to all bidders, and he’ll say, ‘Where’s the most amount of money I can get for that fight?’ And that’ll be him done.

“I think maybe he’s realizing, does he want to be put under pressure of an order of a fight at a 28-day negotiation and then a purse bid, and then you have to take part in the fight in the next 90 days?

“Does he want to go to Germany and fight Kabayel?

“You know, is he slipping? I don’t know, but I think he’s earned the right to do whatever he wants.”

Zuffa Heavyweight Title?

Hearn’s comments may have pointed toward something much bigger.

Free from every sanctioning body obligation, Usyk is now able to negotiate with any promoter, in any country, without worrying about mandatory challengers, purse bids or title defenses.

That immediately puts Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing project firmly in the conversation.

At the Zuffa 08 post-event press conference, White was asked directly whether Usyk’s final fight could take place under the Zuffa Boxing banner after vacating every heavyweight title.

“Anything is possible,” White replied.

When asked if that opponent could be Deontay Wilder, White repeated exactly the same answer.

“Anything is possible.”

White did not dismiss either suggestion, smiling as he answered both questions.

Everything Starts to Fit

Hearn’s comments and White’s remarks don’t confirm the theory. Together, though, they paint a compelling timeline.

WBN has documented throughout 2025 and 2026 that Usyk wanted to face Wilder before ultimately agreeing to meet Rico Verhoeven beneath the Pyramids of Giza.

If Wilder has returned to the front of the queue and Zuffa Boxing intends to crown its own heavyweight champion, Usyk’s decision to surrender the belts suddenly makes far more sense.

White has already confirmed the Zuffa heavyweight championship will be the promotion’s premier title, with no recognition of the WBC, WBA, IBF or WBO belts within its system.

Rather than defending one final sanctioning body title, Usyk may instead be positioning himself to compete for the Zuffa heavyweight championship.

It would also hand Zuffa Boxing a high-profile inaugural heavyweight champion in the form of Usyk or Wilder.

One Question Remains

One part of Usyk’s decision still doesn’t entirely make sense. If Wilder was always the farewell opponent, there appeared to be realistic scenarios where Usyk could have retained at least one heavyweight title before retiring. Instead, he surrendered them all except the Ring Magazine championship.

For now, there is no confirmation that Usyk will face Wilder or that his Last Dance will take place under the Zuffa Boxing banner. However, with Hearn pointing toward Wilder, White refusing to rule it out, and Usyk clearing every sanctioning body obstacle in one move, the theory carries far more weight than it did just days ago.

WBN will examine separately whether Usyk needed to vacate every heavyweight championship at all, as there appear to have been realistic routes for the Ukrainian to retire while still holding at least one world title.

About the Author

Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a veteran boxing reporter with 15+ years of experience. He has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside since 2010. Read full bio.