Boxing heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk recently took a jab at Conor McGregor for his noticeable weight gain.
McGregor has significantly put on weight since his last appearance in the UFC back in 2021. Despite previously competing in the 155lb division, McGregor’s current physique suggests he is far from it. Seizing the opportunity, Oleksandr Usyk recently challenged McGregor to a boxing match.
In a recent interview with SecondsOut, Oleksandr Usyk was asked to share his thoughts on the newly announced Francis Ngannou vs. Tyson Fury matchup. Instead, Usyk redirected the conversation by calling out Conor McGregor for a match at the iconic Wembley Stadium in London, UK.
He confidently stated: “I saw that Conor McGregor put significant weight. Hey Conor, why don’t we make a fight at Wembley.”
Oleksandr Usyk last showcased his skills in August of last year during a highly anticipated rematch against Anthony Joshua. On that memorable night, He was successful in keeping his WBA, WBO, IBO, and IBF heavyweight championships. Additionally, he also won the vacant The Ring heavyweight title.
McGregor’s return to the octagon has been a topic of intense speculation in recent months. Earlier this year it was announced that McGregor would face Michael Chandler after the completion of the current season of he TUF reality series. Now it appears unlikely that he will be able to compete this year due to missing the USADA deadline for 2023 bouts.
As a result, doubts have emerged that suggest that Conor McGregor may never step foot in the octagon again. In an interview with Daily Star, Ariel Helwani questioned McGregor’s dedication to the sport.
He stated: “If he comes back next year, it’s like two and a half years – you wonder about the commitments and distractions, the motivation, things of that nature. So it’s hard to say… Father Time is undefeated, as they say, and it’s hard as you grow older, and you have those long lay-offs, to get back. I think the fires there, the question is like, is he gonna train as much and all that? Only he could truly answer that question.”