29 September 2025<\/time>\n <\/p>\nOleksandr Usyk could be serious about moving away from boxing to fight Jake Paul in a mixed martial arts bout.<\/p>\n
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Oleksandr Usyk could be serious about moving away from boxing to fight Jake Paul in a mixed martial arts match<\/p>\n
The Problem Child, 28, suggested he wanted to fight The Cat, 38, alongside a list of other milestones he wanted to achieve over the next five years, and the undisputed heavyweight champion has now suggested he might seriously want to swap his boxing gloves for MMA mitts to battle Paul.<\/p>\n
Taking to X, Usyk wrote: \u201cGood plan, @jakepaul. But I\u2019m not here for 5th place \u2014 only first.<\/p>\n
\u201cSoon, I’ll close the book on boxing, and after that, I\u2019ll be waiting for you in the cage.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s see if you\u2019ve got the balls or just a hunger for hype.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nMost Valuable Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidarian revealed Paul\u2019s team had been in conversations with Usyk about a potential MMA fight.<\/p>\n
\nSpeaking with Sky Sports, he said: \u201cWe’ve had a couple of conversations, all very positive, and it just depends on how the timing lines up. I think the opportunity is there.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cJake is crazy enough to do it for sure, Usyk’s side seem very interested in it. So it’s just about lining up the timing and I think eventually it’s something that will happen.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cPaul vs Usyk in MMA, that’s going to be a cross-cultural moment that the world will pay attention to. So we’re always interested in those opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nIn July, Usyk defeated Daniel Dubois, 28, to retain his undisputed heavyweight title, and The Cat is now set to next fight the victor of Joseph Parker, 30, vs Fabio Wardley, 30 – which will take place in London\u2019s O2 Arena on 25 October.<\/p>\n
\nParker recently said he wanted to \u201cshow something different\u201d to Usyk\u2019s previous victims, including Dubois, Anthony Joshua, 35, and Tyson Fury, 37.<\/p>\n
\nHe said: \u201cIf that opportunity came I feel like I can show something different. Experience, skill, belief, power, speed, movement, I feel like I’m getting better and better as a fighter even though now I’m 12 years in the game.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI know what I can do. I back myself and believe in what I can do. But that’ll be there once I do this fight.\u201d<\/p>\n
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