Amid hyperlinks to a surprising tremendous struggle later this 12 months, Alex Pereira has been urged in opposition to pursuing a boxing match with former undisputed world heavyweight champion, Oleksandr Usyk — with British placing veteran, Carl Froch describing a possible pairing as a “mismatch” of expertise.
Pereira, the present undisputed gentle heavyweight champion and a former middleweight kingpin underneath the umbrella of the Octagon, is slated to return subsequent month within the headliner of UFC 313 in Las Vegas, taking over surging Russian rival and former title challenger, Magomed Ankalaev in a heated grudge struggle.
Himself most lately defending and retaining his crowns in a direct title rematch with ex-WBC kingpin, Tyson Fury final 12 months, Usyk is certain to have a eager eye on proceedings later this month between former foe, Daniel Dubois who places his IBF crown on the road in opposition to New Zealand veteran, Joseph Parker.
Nevertheless, final week, the Ukrainian made headlines after claiming he would weigh up an excellent struggle within the squared circle in opposition to former two-weight champion, Pereira.
“Next? Maybe a show fight with Alex Pereira. Maybe. Why not? Alex wants to,” Oleksandr Usyk stated throughout a current interview.
Alex Pereira urged to keep away from tremendous struggle with Oleksandr Usyk subsequent
And whereas followers and pundits alike have been receptive to a possible pairing of the duo, former world champion puncher, Froch has urged the Brazilian to rethink a pairing, describing a conflict as an enormous “mismatch”.
“Last night, I watched Alex Pereira sparring on YouTube,” Carl Froch stated on his personal channel. “He’s okay. He’s a bit bit upright. Chin’s within the air a bit, however he’s a bit bolt-rigid. No head motion and fairly fundamental. (Oleksandr) Usyk’s handled one of the best on the earth, so Usyk in opposition to Alex Pereira in a boxing match primarily based on what I’ve seen of Periera [is a mismatch].
“Don’t get me wrong, he’s an absolute machine,” Froch defined. “What a guy. I’ve got nothing but praise for him in his discipline. Brilliant fighter. Like I said, one of the biggest names now in the UFC. Oleksandr Usyk against Pereira in a boxing ring? For me, it’s a mismatch, it’s not something I’d really wanna see. I’d probably like to see that in the cage, if I’m honest. But that’s just the fighter in me saying, ‘How good would one of the best in the boxing world do against somebody like Alex Periera, who is a top UFC fighter?’”
