UFC light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira is sensationally targeting a boxing fight with heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk.

The former kickboxing world champion has become one of the biggest stars in MMA since signing with the UFC back in 2021. In just his fourth fight, ‘Poatan’ claimed gold after defeating long-time rival Israel Adesanya at UFC 281. The 37-year-old has since moved up to light-heavyweight and picked up the vacant strap following a devastating knockout victory over Jiri Prochazka.

With three title defences under his belt already, the Brazilian is due to return to the cage in March and is scheduled to take on surging contender Magomed Ankalaev. Should ‘Poatan’ emerge victorious from the bout, a move into the world of boxing could be next. Speaking on the JAXXON Podcast, Pereira was asked about the possibility of fighting in boxing one day. Over the last year or so, the MMA star has teased a potential move to the sport.

Despite calls to fight Jake Paul, Pereira is hoping for a bigger challenge in Usyk – who is fresh off a victory over Tyson Fury last month. “That’s something he really wants, but no, he’s under contract to the UFC.” Alex Pereira’s translator and coach stated when asked about the Brazilian moving to boxing. “We know [Conor] McGregor did it, don’t know how [Alex] will do it but he really would like to. He’s the champion, he would like to fight a champion, so Oleksandr Usyk [is the fight].”

He continued: “He feels that he could do really good. People talk about boxing, but boxing is one of his biggest parts, and yeah if he’s supposed to fight, he wants to fight a champ… I think he could do good. I believe in him.”

Back in October, during a chat with Adin Ross, Paul was asked how a boxing fight with Pereira would play out. ”One thousand percent I would beat him,” he said. “That’s the thing is, Rountree actually kind of exposed that he doesn’t have a high volume output. He doesn’t like body shots. In MMA, Pereira would rip my head off. But boxing is a completely different sport, and the pace of it, and the style of it…

”He has holes. I mean, Rountree rocked him, hurt him a couple of times to the body, but didn’t follow up on it. So if anything, this fight showed me, yes, Alex Pereira is great. But I know I would beat him in a boxing match, and I still would love to make that happen. Pressure is on him. If he can find his way out of the UFC contract like Nate Diaz did, then eventually him and I can talk.”

Pereira himself was quick to completely shut down the idea of taking on the young American in the ring. In an interview with Ariel Helwani, when asked for his thoughts on fighting ‘The Problem Child’, ‘Poatan’ said: “I’m going to be honest, of course, boxing interests me. But he knows that I’m under contract to the UFC and I can’t just leave. I think that’s why he calls [me out] and says all of that.” He concluded, “I think if the UFC was a league that allowed everyone to fight everywhere, he wouldn’t be saying that.”