Oleksandr Usyk, the undisputed heavyweight boxing champion, might step into the cage for an MMA fight against Jake Paul next year. This unexpected matchup has got fans talking and could shake up both the boxing and MMA worlds.
Usyk's got quite a resume. He grabbed gold at the 2012 Olympics, became the undisputed cruiserweight champ in 2018, and just last month, he claimed all the heavyweight belts. He's beaten Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury twice each, cementing his place at the top of the heavyweight division.
But before any MMA shenanigans, Usyk's got business to take care of. He'll defend his IBF heavyweight title against Daniel Dubois on July 19 in London. If he wins, he'll be a two-time undisputed heavyweight champ.
Sergey Lapin, a member of Usyk's team, spilled the beans about the potential Paul fight to Norwegian betting site Norskebettingsider.
"The Jake Paul fight is a great show. Imagine the announcement – an undisputed boxing champion stepping into the cage to fight under MMA rules against a guy who's beaten several MMA fighters in the boxing ring. That would be something fans would love to see."
Lapin said they'd need to change up their training big time. They'd bring in wrestling and kickboxing experts to get Usyk ready for the cage. And it turns out, Usyk's not just a boxing whiz – he used to wrestle and do hand-to-hand combat as a kid.
When asked about the idea, Usyk was all for it. Lapin quoted him saying, "Why not? It's cool – I love challenges."
Jake Paul, the 28-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer, has made waves in the fight game. He beat Mike Tyson in an 8-round exhibition last November and has wins over former MMA fighters Nate Diaz, Tyron Woodley, and Anderson Silva. His only loss came against Tommy Fury.
Paul's got his own fight coming up in June against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. He's also mentioned wanting to try his hand at MMA before.
Lapin made it clear that while the Paul fight is exciting, Usyk's focused on his July 19 title defense.
"It would be a great fight in the cage. But right now, our main focus is the undisputed fight on July 19 in London. After that, we'll revisit discussions with Jake Paul's team."
If this fight happens, it'll be a first for both guys. An undisputed boxing champ taking on a YouTube sensation in the cage? That's the kind of spectacle that could draw in fans from all corners of the fight world.
