Don't expect Oleksandr Usyk to get into the ring with Jake Paul any time soon

Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk celebrates winning the undisputed world heavyweight boxing title fight against Britain’s Daniel Dubois in London, July 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File)

Jake Paul, right, throws a punch at Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. during their cruiserweight boxing match on June 28, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent, File)

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Oleksandr Usyk wants to make some “noise” before he calls time on a career that has made him the most dominant heavyweight boxer of his generation.

That goes some way to explaining this month’s showdown with a champion kickboxer in Egypt on May 23. Just don’t expect to see him in the ring with YouTube star Jake Paul anytime soon.

“I don’t know because Jake (is) my friend now,” Usyk told The Associated Press when discussing the potential of following Anthony Joshua and taking on the influencer-turned-prizefighter. “With Jake (a) fight is not possible, I think.”