Kamaru Usman would rather face Canelo Alvarez for a guaranteed payday over any “gamble” against Jake Paul.
UFC welterweight champion Usman has teased a boxing switch over the last year or two as he eyes a shot at the big financial prizes available in the squared circle.
His ideal opponent would be Alvarez, who he has called out on multiple occasions as he seeks a lucrative crossover bout in the same mould as Conor McGregor’s 2017 clash with Floyd Mayweather.
The Nigerian has also discussed facing the challenge of Paul, who has already fought UFC stars Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley in the boxing ring.
However, he would give his potential rival a puncher’s chance of winning the fight, despite predicting he will treat it as a walk in the park.
“Listen, me and (Paul) get in a scrap right now, he could touch me,” Usman told I Am Athlete podcast when assessing a potential switch to boxing. “I’m not naive or ignorant enough to think – let them put it on the news. I’m a realist. I know I’m gonna dog walk him, but at the same time, everyone has a puncher’s chance.
“Me fighting Jake Paul, I’m helping him. I beat Jake Paul, nobody cares. You’re supposed to beat him. I still get a bank account now. I still get that. I beat Canelo, biggest athlete in the world, not even close, 100million in the bank. If I’m gonna gamble, I’m gonna gamble well.”
Usman has previously been called out by Paul, who is eyeing fights with leading names in the UFC, including Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor.
However, the Nigerian is more focused on a potential shot at Alvarez, which he believes would be his claim to become pound-for-pound king of combat sports.
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