Oleksandr Usyk makes U-turn on Jake Paul fight after entering negotiations over MMA debut

Oleksandr Usyk has poured cold water on a potential crossover clash with Jake Paul.

Both men faced off in the ring at Wembley Stadium in July after Usyk knocked out Daniel Dubois to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion.

Instagram - Jake Paul

The pair verbally agreed to meet each other in an MMA bout, and there were genuine talks, according to Paul’s manager and business partner Nakisa Bidarian.

However, Usyk has now declared that the fight is no longer possible.

“I don’t know because Jake (is) my friend now,” Usyk told The Associated Press about the possibility of fighting the YouTuber-turned-boxer.

“With Jake, (a) fight is not possible, I think.”

It remains to be seen whether Paul will ever fight again in the aftermath of his knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in December.

‘The Problem Child’ had his jaw broken in two places and subsequently underwent surgery to have titanium plates fitted and teeth removed.

Broken jaws usually take between three and 12 months to fully heal, but Paul has run into complications that have resulted in him going under the knife for a second time.

Paul even suggested that he may be forced to retire as a result of the injury.

The end of the road for Jake Paul?

“I’m getting some new scans here in a couple of days of the jaw to get an update on the healing process,” Paul said during a recent appearance on the Ariel Helwani Show.

“We’ll see what my doctors say. I think I’ll be able to get a more accurate timeframe, or can I even fight again?

AFP

“That is definitely in the realm of possibilities of things.

“It does feel a lot better as weeks go by and time goes by.

“But I definitely need to get cleared first to be able to spar, but I am sort of staying in shape.

“I’m always in the gym pretty much regardless. Just staying in shape and enjoying some mitt work.

“Most definitely [there’s a chance I can’t fight again].

“I think it just depends on how the bone heals, and then also, there’s a tooth missing here that I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to get an implanted tooth of some sort.

“I don’t know how much time that’s going to add to things.

“But we just have to see and figure out what the smartest thing is for me.”

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