SAN FRANCISCO is reportedly gearing up to host a world-record boxing event which could feature heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk.
The 38-year-old has not set foot in the ring for a professional bout since his fifth-round knockout victory over Daniel Dubois in July.
But he is now in demand for a huge card which will take place later this year.
The Daily Mail reports that YouTube is spearheading ambitious plans for a boxing show that will set a new record crowd of nearly 150,000 fans.
Set to be announced on Friday, the project will form part of the ‘Iconic’ series – which includes over a dozen events across 2026 from promotional upstart IVisit Boxing.
The main event is currently scheduled for July 11 and will see the Civic Center Plaza turned into an open-air boxing arena.
It is understood the vast majority of tickets will be made available for free.
Although the fight card is yet to be finalised, IVisit Boxing is pushing to sign Usyk up for it.
IVB chief Ed Pereira told the Mail: “We are open to working with all promoters, managers, content creators and fighters, so of course we’d be open to speaking to boxer of that calibre, who wouldn’t want Usyk on their card?
“It’s going to be more than just a fight. What attracted us to YouTube, and YouTube to us, was that commitment to cultural moments.
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“It’s all about creating a cultural moment – a cultural moment in the city of San Francisco, a cultural moment in California, and a cultural moment for the world.
“Anybody can go and put a show on and just produce it live on their own YouTube channel… but we are doing exactly the same as what the NFL did.
“This partnership with YouTube puts us in the next league.”
He concluded: “Boxing fans want to see the biggest fights and they want to see the biggest fights on the biggest stages.
“But, ultimately, I want to make it accessible to the casual fan… and everyone has YouTube on their phones.”
The largest boxing crowd in history currently stands at 135,132 and was set back in August 1941 when Tony Zale defeated Billy Pryor at Juneau Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The record attempt this summer will be streamed live on YouTube and is set to include a music festival and fan village.
