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Oleksandr Usyk has hinted at the possibility of facing YouTube star and professional boxer Jake Paul in an MMA fight, but with a unique twist, as the reigning undisputed heavyweight boxing champion would fight with one hand tied behind his back.
Usyk ascended to the pinnacle of the heavyweight division by defeating Tyson Fury in a historic match in Saudi Arabia this past May.
The two are slated for a rematch in December, again in Saudi Arabia. Post-rematch, Usyk might drop back down to cruiserweight, where he previously held the title of undisputed champion.
Paul is set to face former UFC fighter Mike Perry next weekend, filling in after heavyweight legend Mike Tyson had to withdraw from their planned fight due to an inflamed stomach ulcer. Their match has been rescheduled for November 15.
Lapin's humorous suggestion
Despite the apparent mismatch between Usyk and Paul, Usyk's coach, Sergey Lapin, humorously proposed that Usyk would give Paul a chance by tying one hand behind his back during the fight.
"Usyk is running out of challenges at heavyweight," Lapin told Betway. "He accepted the challenge at heavyweight and became the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, a lot of work went into this achievement.
"After the rematch we will see who will remain in the heavyweight division, but Usyk has now ed this level, everyone who stood in Usyk's way has been overcome. We are now set for a rematch with Fury, after that we will know who will be next.
"He's proven he's the best of this generation and, once he's retired Tyson Fury, he will consider his options. Maybe that's dropping down in weight again, or maybe there's a wildcard option on the table for him; be it in the boxing ring, the MMA cage or even Conor McGregor's Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
"Can you imagine Usyk and Jon Jones fighting to prove they're the baddest man on the planet? Or maybe it's a third fight with Anthony Joshua in the MMA cage. Maybe it's Jake Paul at cruiserweight, although Usyk would need to fight him with one hand behind his back though to make it fair."