Jake Paul has confirmed surprising behind-the-scenes discussions about a potential fight against boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk, following earlier hints about a possible world title opportunity.
The heavyweight king recently challenged the YouTuber-turned-boxer, and negotiations between their respective camps are reportedly underway.
However, Usyk`s challenge is for a bout inside the MMA cage, rather than the boxing ring.
Paul, who is signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), is targeting an MMA debut next year, and Usyk is among the names being considered as an opponent.
Speaking alongside UFC and boxing legend Holly Holm, Paul stated, “I want to be like Holly here and test my skills in the cage.”
“That`s something I`m extremely interested in, and I believe it would create a very significant event,” he added, also mentioning, “Nate Diaz is still avoiding a fight, but we need to find the right opponent, maybe Usyk.”
Nakisa Bidarian, Paul`s promotional partner, corroborated these talks, saying, “Usyk has called out Jake multiple times for an MMA fight.”
Bidarian continued, “They`ve been in touch with us privately, indicating they want this to happen in 2026. So, it`s definitely something we intend to pursue.” He also noted that the PFL has expressed interest in promoting such a crossover fight.
Before any potential clash with Paul, the 38-year-old Usyk is scheduled for a rematch against Daniel Dubois (27) on July 19 at Wembley Stadium. This follows Usyk`s recent victory over Tyson Fury (36), which saw him become the undisputed heavyweight champion.
Usyk has previously stated he only plans to have two more fights and has called out UFC star Alex Pereira (37) in the past.
Meanwhile, Paul (28) is set to face former middleweight world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr (39) in his next boxing match on June 28 in California.
Paul is returning to the cruiserweight division after competing at heavyweight and also revealed he`s had talks about fighting WBC champion Badou Jack.
He quoted, “I`m highly interested. I had Nakisa reach out to his team discreetly, so those discussions are taking place.”
This aligns with previous comments from Jack (41), who told SunSport, “It`s a lucrative fight. It`s an easy fight and it`s a lucrative fight. So, why not?”
Oliver Croft