Oleksandr Usyk has solidified his legacy as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time with a fifth-round knockout victory over Daniel Dubois at London’s iconic Wembley Stadium on Saturday night.
The Ukrainian boxer, who improved his perfect record to 24-0, successfully defended his unified heavyweight championship. But it wasn’t just his in-ring performance that had fans buzzing, it was what happened after the final bell that made social media surprised.
YouTube sensation turned boxer Jake Paul made his presence felt at ringside, challenging Usyk to step into a completely different combat arena. The two faced off in the ring following Usyk’s victory, with Paul proposing an MMA showdown between the pair.
“Congrats to one of the greatest heavyweights of all time @usykaa on a huge win,” Paul wrote on social media moments after Usyk’s masterclass. “I respect you a lot. Now we do an MMA match for the world @MostVpromotions.”
Surprisingly, Usyk seemed receptive to the idea, sealing the proposal with a handshake in the ring. During his post-fight press conference, the two-time undisputed heavyweight champion confirmed his interest but indicated timing would be key.
“Yes, I am ready [to fight Jake Paul] but I need to rest,” Usyk told assembled media.
This potential crossover bout isn’t coming out of nowhere. Paul’s manager, Nakisa Bidarian, revealed earlier this year that discussions about an MMA contest between the two had already been taking place behind the scenes.
“Usyk has called out Jake multiple times in MMA,” Bidarian stated in May. “They’ve been in touch with us behind the scenes, saying they want to do that fight in 2026. So it’s something that we definitely want to pursue.”
Paul, who joined MMA organization PFL in 2023 but has yet to make his debut in the cage, has previously expressed his desire to test himself in a new combat sport.
“I want to test my skills in the cage. That’s something I’m super, super interested in, and I think it would be a very, very big spectacle,” Paul said. “Nate Diaz is still ducking, but we would need to find the right opponent. [Oleksandr] Usyk, maybe.”
Before any potential MMA debut, Usyk is expected to have one final boxing match, with Joseph Parker emerging as the frontrunner. The WBO is poised to order a mandatory bout with their interim champion.
The victory against Dubois cements Usyk’s place in boxing history as he joins an elite group of boxers who have become undisputed champions in multiple weight classes.
