Jon Jones is not interested in boxing Oleksandr Usyk, even with Usyk linked to him as a possible farewell opponent.
Usyk has been tied to Jones and Deontay Wilder as potential names for a final fight after vacating the WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight titles. Jones did the interview with Ring Magazine, where he was asked directly whether he would accept an Oleksandr Usyk boxing match if it was offered.
Jones Says He Would Pass On Boxing Usyk
Jones immediately rejected the boxing version of the matchup, then separated that answer from his respect for Usyk’s heavyweight boxing resume.
“No. No, not at all. Usyk is Usyk, man. He’s one of the absolute GOATs of boxing, of heavyweight boxing,” Jones said.
Jones also pointed to Usyk’s wrestling work as part of why he respects him inside boxing exchanges.
“I also am aware that he does wrestling. And that wrestling has been a heavy part of his training for many years. It’s probably why he’s so dominant in the clinch,” Jones said.
That is where Jones drew the line between a boxing match and a fight that tests more than punches.
“If he’d like to test his total combat skills, I would oblige him in that,” Jones said. “But to handicap myself by only using my hands, I mean, that’s just that’s not the world that I come from.”
Jones Says Usyk Has The Best Boxer Chance In MMA
Jones said Usyk would be the heavyweight boxer most likely to make an MMA version competitive. He still argued that Usyk is not a complete fighter by MMA standards.
“Out of all of the heavyweight boxers, I do see Usyk having the highest potential in making it competitive,” Jones said. “But I am no boxer. And I don’t really consider Usyk to be a complete fighter.”
“I think the world knows what would happen if we were locked in the same room. And I’ll just leave it at that,” Jones said.
When the follow-up clarified that Jones would be interested in MMA but would pass on boxing, Jones confirmed the distinction.
“I’m going to pass, yeah,” Jones said. “The way I respect him in the ring, he should respect me in that octagon.”
The question came with Usyk linked to Jones and Wilder for a final farewell fight, and with Jones’ UFC status still unsettled after his contract and return talks. Jones has not fought since stopping Stipe Miocic in November 2024, and he said in the same Ring Magazine interview that he remains in the UFC drug-testing pool while waiting to see if the promotion offers another fight.
Jones ruled out a boxing match, credited Usyk’s heavyweight boxing and clinch skill, and said his interest depends on Usyk testing “total combat skills” under an MMA ruleset.
