OLEKSANDR USYK warned Jake Paul he is ready and waiting to fight him in the MMA cage – with a deal ready to be made.
Paul revealed his five-year plan which included having a baby, marrying his fiancee Jutta Leerdam and becoming a billionaire.
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Among his list was also becoming boxing world champion and in fifth place – fighting Usyk.
To which the undisputed heavyweight king responded: “Good plan, @jakepaul. But I’m not here for 5th place — only first.
“Soon, I’ll close the book on boxing, and after that, I’ll be waiting for you in the cage.
“Let’s see if you’ve got the balls or just a hunger for hype.”
Nakisa Bidarian – who co-founded Most Valuable Promotions with Paul – revealed talks with Usyk’s team are ongoing behind the scenes.
Bidarian told Sky Sports: “We’ve had a couple of conversations, all very positive, and it just depends on how the timing lines up.
“I think the opportunity is there. Jake is crazy enough to do it for sure, Usyk’s side seem very interested in it.
“So it’s just about lining up the timing and I think eventually it’s something that will happen.
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“Paul vs Usyk in MMA, that’s going to be a cross-cultural moment that the world will pay attention to.
“So we’re always interested in those opportunities.”
YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul is signed to the Professional Fighters League – where he is expected to make his MMA debut.
And new PFL CEO John Martin – formerly of media giants Time Warner – is open for talks.
Martin said: “I look forward to that. And my understanding is that if Jake decides he wants to fight MMA, he has a relationship with PFL and we’d be a great place for him to do it.
“So we’ll wait and see what happens. That’d be amazing. I mean look, Jake has done extraordinarily well in boxing and I think he’s surprised a lot of people.
“And I would love to have the opportunity to consider him doing an MMA fight with PFL.”
My understanding is that if Jake decides he wants to fight MMA, he has a relationship with PFL and we’d be a great place for him to do it.
PFL CEO John Martin
Paul’s career in the ring has taken him to 12-1, beating former middleweight world champ Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, 39, in June.
His next bout is an exhibition against lightweight star Gervonta Davis, 30, on November 14 in Miami.
But due to their FIVE STONE weight difference the fight cannot be professionally sanctioned.
Usyk, 38, meanwhile is taking time out after knocking out Daniel Dubois, 28, at Wembley in July.
That night he was crowned undisputed champ at heavyweight for the second time.
He was mandated to face Joseph Parker, 33, next but he was granted an exemption due to injury.
Usyk – who has twice beaten Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Dubois in his career – has warned he has just one fight left.
And Paul is on his list of potential opponents – but only in the MMA cage.
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