Oleksandr Usyk might have one last surprise up his sleeve before he hangs up his gloves. The heavyweight champion has hinted at the possibility of an MMA fight or a final boxing match to unify the IBF title.
Usyk has already made his mark as one of the best boxers of his generation. He's achieved undisputed status in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, a feat that's never been done before in the four-belt era. His impressive resume includes wins over Anthony Joshua and two victories against Tyson Fury.
But the Ukrainian fighter isn't done yet. His immediate goal is to recapture the IBF heavyweight belt he vacated before his rematch with Fury. The current champion, Daniel Dubois, stands in his way.
In a recent interview with Al Arabiya English, Usyk dropped a bombshell about his future plans:
"Yes, I would be interested, but only after the fight with Daniel [Dubois] to match our belts. I've even considered the option of fighting inside a cage. It's a joke, but every joke contains an element of truth."
This statement has sparked speculation about potential MMA opponents. Alex Pereira's name has been thrown into the mix, and surprisingly, so has Jake Paul's.
Usyk's teammate, Sergey Lapin, added fuel to the fire in a statement to OLBG:
"It might be great to step into the cage with Jake Paul under MMA rules, it would be interesting if there's money to be made from it. Also, we never say never about fighting the dangerous Alex Pereira, possibly partnered with Dana White."
Before any of these potential matchups, Usyk has some business to take care of in the boxing ring. He stopped Joshua in September and now faces a WBO-ordered defense against in-form former world champion Joseph Parker.
Usyk's achievements in the four-belt era put him in rare company. Only Terence Crawford and Naoya Inoue have matched his feat of becoming undisputed in two weight classes. But Usyk could set himself apart even further - no man has ever been undisputed twice in the same division.
Whether Usyk chooses to step into the MMA cage or pursue another boxing milestone, fans can expect an exciting finale to an already stellar career.
