Talk of an Oleksandr Usyk vs. Jon Jones super fight is gaining traction after Sergey Lapin, who directs Usyk’s team, said the Ukrainian heavyweight champion is open to meeting the former UFC two-division titleholder in the United States. The idea is not on the immediate schedule, but Lapin framed Jones as a far more compelling crossover option than influencer-turned-fighter Jake Paul.
That angle matters in the American market, where fans have seen plenty of novelty bouts but still respond when elite champions from different combat sports are attached to the same headline. A Usyk-Jones matchup would carry a very different weight than a typical crossover spectacle: Jones is widely viewed as one of the greatest MMA fighters ever, while Usyk has built his reputation as one of boxing’s most technically complete heavyweights of this era.
Lapin said a fight with Jake Paul in MMA is not currently being considered by Usyk’s camp, though he left the door open to creative projects down the line. When discussing crossover possibilities, he pointed to Jones as the kind of opponent who could turn the event into something massive if promoted correctly, essentially pitting MMA’s top heavyweight name against one of boxing’s defining champions.
From a stakes standpoint, the appeal is obvious. For Usyk, beating Jones in any hybrid or MMA-adjacent setting would only deepen his legacy as a fighter willing to chase unprecedented challenges beyond boxing. For Jones, facing Usyk would offer the kind of mainstream, pay-per-view crossover moment that has long appealed to American combat sports audiences. It would also reignite debate over which discipline produces the most dangerous heavyweight athlete.
For now, Usyk’s next confirmed assignment comes much sooner. He is scheduled to face acclaimed kickboxer Rico Verhoeven on May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, an event notable for both its setting and crossover appeal. Whether the Jones idea develops into serious negotiations or remains promotional intrigue, the next clues will come after Usyk’s upcoming appearance in Egypt.