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Oleksandr Usyk Open To Fighting Jake Paul—But Not In the Boxing Ring
Oleksandr Usyk and Jake Paul. Two of the most talked-about names in boxing today, though for vastly different reasons. One is a decorated, undisputed heavyweight champion with back-to-back wins over Tyson Fury. The other? A YouTuber-turned-boxer who’s become one of the most polarizing—and marketable—figures in combat sports. Now, the two names are unexpectedly being mentioned in the same sentence... and not just by fans.
In a surprising turn, Usyk's team has publicly opened the door to a potential fight with Jake Paul—just not inside the squared circle.
From the Ring to the Cage?
Usyk’s longtime advisor and team executive, Sergey Lapin, recently spoke with OLBG and revealed that the Ukrainian pound-for-pound king would consider a future fight with Jake Paul under MMA rules. Yes, MMA.
“Usyk has always cared only about fighting the best and creating a lasting legacy in the great sport of boxing,” Lapin said. “But in the future, as he further solidifies his place as one of the true great fighters, we’ll see what other opportunities open up for him. It might be great to step into the cage with Jake Paul under MMA rules, it would be interesting if there is money to be made from it.”
Lapin even teased the idea of Usyk facing UFC knockout artist Alex Pereira—though UFC president Dana White has already shot that idea down. Still, the interest in crossover fights is clearly there.
Jake Paul’s MMA Aspirations
Jake Paul signed with the PFL back in 2023, promising an eventual debut inside the cage. But as of early 2025, Paul has yet to set foot in the PFL SmartCage. He’s continued to focus on his boxing career, which includes wins over former UFC champions and a growing list of high-profile callouts. Just last year, Paul was reportedly on the brink of booking a fight with Canelo Alvarez before the deal collapsed, with Canelo opting to sign with Riyadh Season instead.
Paul hasn’t been shy about calling out big names and teasing a future in MMA. If he’s serious about making that jump, Usyk might be the most shocking opponent he could ever line up.
A Clash of Combat Cultures
Usyk, for all his dominance in boxing, has zero experience in MMA or grappling. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned about the Ukrainian southpaw, it’s that he never backs down from a challenge. While a fight between the two might sound bizarre on paper, so did the idea of a YouTuber going toe-to-toe with Anderson Silva, Nate Diaz, and Canelo Alvarez.
Let’s not forget, Usyk has become the king of heavyweight boxing by defying expectations. An MMA showdown with Jake Paul might seem far-fetched today—but crazier things have happened in this era of crossover superfights.
What’s Next?
For now, Usyk is still riding high after a historic pair of victories over Tyson Fury and is expected to defend his heavyweight titles against another top contender, possibly Joseph Parker. But as his legacy grows and Paul’s star continues to rise, don’t be surprised if these two unlikely figures cross paths somewhere down the road—maybe not in the ring, but in a cage, under the bright lights of a new frontier.
One thing’s for sure: if the money’s right, nothing’s off the table.
FIGHT.TV is here for it!