“There is dialogue, and interest exists,” Lapin told talkSPORT Bet “Details are not for the public right now. Let’s say some doors are open and if format, numbers and timing match, the market could see a move that no one expects.”
The language is careful. Nothing firm, nothing close to a signature. But the possibility is worked through, which means that something has been moved.
What Dana White Brings
White’s record with UFC is well known. He has taken mixed martial arts from regional shows to stadium events with broadcast deals spanning continents. The model works because it packages fighters within a controlled structure. One promoter, one vision, predictable scheduling. Boxing has never operated like this, and White knows it.
“Everyone saw what Dana White did. He turned “old MMA” into the global UFC machine,” Lapin said.
“There are discussions and negotiations with Deontay Wilder going on, but there are no final decisions and nothing is signed at this moment. We are moving calmly and professionally, when everything is agreed, it will be officially announced. We are only considering the biggest and most logical options, fights that really create an event, not just another name.
“There are several top heavyweights in the conversation, but the shortlist changes depending on belts, timing, dates and broadcast structures. Our position is simple: if it’s a fight, it has to be a big one.”
Zuffa Boxing kicks off on Friday with Callum Walsh fighting Carlos Ocampo in Las Vegas. Jai Opetaia, the cruiserweight titleholder, is the biggest signing to date. Usyk would change the weight of the entire operation if he joined. Not because he needs White, but because White needs a heavyweight with three belts to prove that Zuffa Boxing isn’t just another vanity project.
Lapin’s comment about White’s ability to “package not just a fight, but an event” acknowledges what everyone already understands. White builds around fighters, not for them. Whether Usyk fits that model depends on how much control he’s willing to trade for scale.
Wilder, Kabayel and the shortlist
Wilder remains in the conversation despite losing three of his last five. His name still attracts attention, even though his defense and stamina have weakened. A fight with Usyk would sell, but it wouldn’t test much. Wilder’s power remains, his footwork does not.
Lapin mentioned Agit Kabayel as another option. “In today’s top heavyweight division there are no safe opponents, every top level guy is a threat. Kabayel is definitely a possible option. We see how Germany reacts to these fights, the stadiums they can fill, and how strong that market is. Stylistically he can be tough too. Pressure, pace, physicality. It will be a big European fight with strong business potential.”
Kabayel is undefeated, methodical and durable. He presses without committing and works behind a jab that keeps opponents at bay. Germany has proven it will fill arenas for heavyweight fights, and Kabayel represents a fight that carries regional appeal without demanding a unification. It’s a safer commercial move than Wilder, even if it lacks the same buzz.
What Happens Next
Lapin’s careful wording suggests Usyk’s team is weighing options without rushing into anything.
White’s involvement could simplify some of that, or further complicate it, depending on how much influence the sanctioning bodies allow him to wield. Zuffa Boxing does not yet have the infrastructure to dictate terms like UFC does in mixed martial arts. Boxing’s fragmented ecosystem resists consolidation, and Usyk at the top of the division makes him a target for every promoter trying to build something.
Whether Usyk ends up fighting under Zuffa Boxing, iV Boxing, or somewhere else depends on what his team values ​​more: control or exposure. White presents the latter. The former remains negotiable.
