Oleksandr Usyk, the unified heavyweight world champion, is gearing up for one of the most unconventional bouts of his storied career—a clash with kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven later this month in Egypt. But while the Ukrainian powerhouse is open to crossing combat sports boundaries, there's one high-profile name he won't step into the ring with: Jake Paul.
Usyk, who boasts an unblemished 24-0 record with 15 knockouts, is determined to make a lasting impact before hanging up his gloves. At 39, he's planning just three more fights, starting with the Verhoeven showdown on May 23. This willingness to embrace crossover spectacles has fans buzzing, but when it comes to the YouTube star-turned-boxer, Usyk draws a firm line.
"I don't know because Jake is my friend now," Usyk told The Associated Press. "With Jake, a fight is not possible, I think."
The friendship aside, Usyk isn't dismissing the broader trend of boxers taking on flashy, lucrative opponents from different sports. Jake Paul and his brother Logan have famously shared the ring with legends like Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather, while Mayweather himself has crossed over to face UFC champion Conor McGregor and kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa.
These matchups have drawn criticism from purists, but Usyk sees them as a natural evolution of the sport. "It's a media fight aimed at drawing even more people into professional boxing and combat sports in general," he explained. "You know how it was when we were kids watching movies. 'Who's stronger, Jean-Claude Van Damme or Chuck Norris? Or Sylvester Stallone, or someone else?' Everything that happens in today's world is a show, it's all like a movie. And we are simply actors in that movie."
The appeal of these contests was on full display in December when Jake Paul faced Anthony Joshua. Despite Paul's jaw being broken in two places, the two-time heavyweight champion knocked him out in six rounds. The event drew massive attention, proving that even at the elite level, crossover fights can captivate audiences.
For Usyk, the Verhoeven fight is another chapter in a career defined by dominance and adaptability. As he prepares for this unique challenge, fans can expect the same intensity that made him a legend—just don't expect a showdown with his friend Jake Paul anytime soon.