Heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk has expressed willingness to venture into unfamiliar territory for a potential MMA showdown with Jake Paul, according to a member of the Ukrainian's camp.
Sergey Lapin revealed that the undisputed heavyweight champion would be open to dramatically altering his training regimen to prepare for a cage fight against the YouTuber-turned-boxer.
'We would need to completely restructure our training camp – bring in wrestling and kickboxing experts to master the techniques needed for the cage,' Lapin stated. 'But we saw the reaction from Jake Paul's team – they're into the idea.'
The 38-year-old Ukrainian reportedly has some grappling experience from his youth but would require significant adaptation to compete under MMA rules. Despite this challenge, Usyk appears enthusiastic about the prospect.
'Usyk said, 'Why not? It's cool – I love challenges,'' Lapin explained. 'He even mentioned he used to wrestle and take part in hand-to-hand combat as a kid.'
Before any potential MMA venture materializes, Usyk remains focused on his upcoming rematch against Daniel Dubois on July 19 at Wembley Stadium, where he'll defend his undisputed heavyweight titles. This follows his two points victories over Tyson Fury last year.
According to Statbet analysis, crossover bouts between boxing and MMA have historically generated significant viewer interest, with potential viewership for a Usyk-Paul matchup estimated to exceed recent pay-per-view records.
Meanwhile, Paul, 28, is preparing for his June 28 bout against former middleweight world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in California. The American is also signed to the Professional Fighters League and has indicated interest in making his MMA debut next year.
'That's something I'm super, super interested in and I think it would be a very, very big spectacle,' Paul said regarding a potential MMA bout with Usyk.
Nakisa Bidarian, Paul's promotional partner, confirmed there have been behind-the-scenes discussions about a possible 2026 matchup, noting that the PFL has shown interest in promoting this unusual crossover event.
With Usyk having previously stated he has just two fights left in his boxing career, fans will be watching closely to see if this unprecedented boxing-to-MMA transition becomes reality.
