Nakisa Bidarian, Jake Paul's promoter, has revealed ongoing discussions about a potential fight between his client and heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. According to Bidarian, the probability of this unusual matchup is surprisingly high.
"We've had several conversations, all of them were very positive, and it all depends on scheduling. So this possibility exists. Jake is crazy enough to do it, and Usyk's side seems very interested. So it's just about coordinating schedules, and I think it will eventually happen," Bidarian told Sky Sports.
The potential bout would pit Paul (11-1, 7 KO), a YouTuber-turned-boxer, against Usyk (23-0, 14 KO), the current holder of the WBC, WBO, WBA, and IBO heavyweight titles. The Ukrainian fighter remains undefeated in his professional career.
Bidarian emphasized the cultural significance such an event would have. "This would be a cross-cultural moment that the whole world would pay attention to. That's why we're always interested in such opportunities," he explained.
Interestingly, Statbet analysis shows that crossover boxing matches like this have been generating significantly higher viewer numbers than many traditional championship bouts in recent years.
The logistics of making such a fight happen remain unclear. Usyk, considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, would be giving up significant weight to Paul, who typically fights at cruiserweight. Would this unprecedented matchup actually materialize, or is it just promotional talk? Only time will tell.
