Undisputed boxing champion in talks to make bare-knuckle debut claims BKB CEO

Undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has held talks with bare-knuckle boxing promotion BKB about a possible fight. 

Usyk last fought in July when he became a two-time undisputed champion at heavyweight after knocking out Daniel Dubois in the fifth round of their contest at Wembley Stadium. 

The Ukrainian is yet to announce his next move with retirement a possibility. 

However, there have been rumours of a possible switch to MMA to face Jake Paul, and now a bare knuckle debut could be on the table following comments made by BKB CEO David Tetreault. 

"We’ve had discussions with Usyk," Tetreault told Boxing Social. 

"Who the opponent would be, we haven’t been there, but that’s somebody who would be transformational for the sport.

"With all that he’s already done in boxing, why not do this? We’ve had those conversations."

Usyk would not be the first boxer to make the switch to bare-knuckle. Former Olympian and world champion James DeGale is the latest high profile name to have made the switch when he beat Matt Floyd in Manchester last month. 

Former two-weight world champion Paulie Malignaggi is another boxer who is fast becoming a regular fighter in bare knuckle and he returns to action on Saturday night against Tyler Goodjohn in a super welterweight contest. 

Watch Parker vs. Wardley live on DAZN

Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley fight on Saturday, October 25, to become the WBO mandatory challenger to Oleksandr Usyk. Watch the fight and undercard live and exclusive on DAZN PPV.

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