Boxing

Undisputed heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk took to social media on Friday to tease a potential clash with Jake Paul.

On his Instagram Stories, Usyk reposted a graphic teasing an MMA fight between him and Paul:

While both Usyk and Paul are known for their success in boxing, a fight between them under MMA rules would perhaps level the playing field to some degree since Usyk is a more experienced and highly regarded boxer.

The 38-year-old Usyk turned pro after winning an Olympic gold medal for Ukraine at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, and he has been a dominant force ever since.

Usyk is a perfect 23-0 with 14 wins by way of knockout, and he has taken down some of the top heavyweight fighters in the sport.

In 2021, Usyk beat Anthony Joshua for the WBA (Super), WBO, IBF and IBO world heavyweight titles, and retained them in a rematch victory over Joshua the following year.

More recently, Usyk handed Tyson Fury the first loss of his illustrious career in May 2024, beating him by split decision to retain his titles and win the WBC heavyweight title, making him the undisputed heavyweight champion.

In a December 2024 rematch, Usyk won even more decisively, beating Fury by unanimous decision.

Paul, 28, turned pro in 2020, and he has achieved boxing stardom in a short amount of time.

While he owns boxing victories over former MMA stars such as Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz, Paul has often been criticized for his level of competition.

The first and only blemish on his 11-1 record came in 2023 when he faced a legitimate boxer for the first time, as he fell to Tyson Fury's younger brother, Tommy Fury, by split decision.

Paul is 5-0 since then, scoring victories over boxers Andre August and Ryan Bourland before beating heavyweight boxing legend Mike Tyson by unanimous decision in November.

While the Tyson win looks good on Paul's résumé, Tyson is 58 years old and hadn't had a professional fight since 2005.

It is difficult to envision Paul having a chance against Usyk in a boxing match, but perhaps things would be different inside an MMA cage given that it isn't Usyk's area of expertise.

Paul seemingly had a boxing match lined up against Canelo Álvarez, but Canelo decided to sign a contract with Riyadh Season instead, leaving Paul without an obvious direction for his next fight.

Transitioning to MMA would be a departure from what Paul has been doing as a boxer, but fighting the undisputed world champion in any environment would drum up a ton of interest and make for a must-see event.

After defeating the legendary Mike Tyson in November, Jake Paul is hoping to avenge the lone loss on his record the next time he steps into the ring.

Paul tweeted on Thursday that he is offering $3 million for a fight against Tommy Fury, who defeated him by split decision in 2023. Paul added that he would raise the offer to $4 million if Fury is able to fight in the United States.

The rivalry between Paul and Fury was reignited this week when Fury took exception to Paul saying on his podcast that he would want to fight former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

"Just wanted to give a little opinion on everything I've been seeing on social media lately. Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua. Just wanted to come on here and remind everybody that that bum couldn't even beat me when I basically had a broken hand," Tommy Fury said in a social media video. "I had one hand and he still lost. Jake Paul, I'm still your daddy and everybody weighing this fight up, don't bother because he ain't worth a shilling. And a loss will always be there, Mr. Paul. Take it easy and have a good day."

Paul responded with a tweet, kicking off a tense back-and-forth between them on social media:

Paul's record improved to 11-1 after his unanimous decision win over Tyson nearly six months ago. The 28-year-old is one of the biggest draws in the sport and the face of the influencer boxing era, so Fury would be staring at a massive payday if he agreed to meet him in the ring once again this year.

Nearly six months removed from his record-breaking fight against Jake Paul on Netflix, Mike Tyson admits that he has mixed feelings about his return to the ring.

On one hand, the legendary heavyweight questioned why he fought for the first time since 2020 against someone 31 years younger than him, but on the other, he takes pride in knowing that he can still perform in front of a sell-out crowd and record-setting streaming audience at 58 years old.

"The day after, I asked my wife, 'Why did I do that?'" Tyson told B/R in an interview. "I don't know, I just did it because I'm always out of my comfort zone. I'm never in my comfort zone, I'm never in a place where I'm saying, 'Hey, this is it, I'm in my duration of life.' No, I'm always gonna push the level, man, I'm that kind of guy. I might jump off a 15-story building one day, you never know, see if I can fly. I just like to push myself, that's the only way I live."

Tyson faced Paul on Nov. 15 in front of over 72,300 fans at AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys. The fight generated $18.1 million in total revenue, setting a record for the highest-grossing combat sports event outside of Las Vegas. Netflix also announced that the fight was the most-streamed sporting event in history, with over 108 million viewers tuning in around the world. Tyson lost the fight by unanimous decision, but he took home a reported $20 million fight purse.

"Remember that other guy, he said, 'I'm not watching that Tyson fight, I'm only watching Katie Taylor fight,'" Tyson said, referring to promoter Eddie Hearn's pre-fight comments. "Tell him thanks for not watching me, we still broke all the records. (laughs) 'I'm not watching that fight, it's a circus.' I guess the majority of people enjoy the circus."

Tyson didn't rule out a future fight but said he's in no rush to return to the ring again anytime soon.

"Everything is possible, but I'm having a good time right now just chilling. I'm just having fun boxing with my accountant now," he said, later adding, "The fact is, hey, if somebody breaks my record, I might come back."

Perhaps another appearance in WWE to follow up his iconic 1998 run with the company could be on the table during his time away from the boxing ring?

"Oh God, I would love to do that, that's me at my childhood best, I had a great time," Tyson said. When asked if there were any wrestlers he wants to work with in particular, he replied, "Shoot, all of them, let's get a Battle Royal."

Staying active is why Tyson partnered with Dr. Squatch to trade in his "Iron Mike" moniker and adopt the persona of "Moisture Mike" with the help of the new, all-natural, ultra-hydrating Total Moisture Collection, which is designed to help men take care of their sensitive skin. He said he's relied on the products following his workouts and during his busy travel schedule, and he hopes to help show the importance of self-care.

"I normally have problems with long-lasting deodorant, it doesn't really last a long duration of time. The stuff I got from Dr. Squatch now is thicker and grabs to the substance of my flesh, and I'm lasting all day," Tyson said, noting that Shea Butter is his favorite soap in the collection and Rainforest Rapids is another one of his favorite scents. "... It's the way to go. For all the funky people, Dr. Squatch."

Tyson also spoke about the ever-shifting landscape of boxing, particularly in the heavyweight division that he ruled over as undisputed champion from 1987 to 1990. Current undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk is ushering in a new era as veterans like Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder near the end of their careers. Tyson called out the lack of major stars in boxing and partly attributed it to the trend of fighting less frequently.

"Usyk is the king, and that's basically all that matters in boxing. Usyk, Tank, Canelo, those are the only guys who are gonna draw people. ... Definitely Terence Crawford, but there's very few people you can mention their names in arenas sold out," Tyson said. "... The fact is that fighting is always gonna continue to change and evolve. Maybe it may evolve into laziness, that's what we're seeing now, not much activity is going on."

When asked how he'd fare in the current boxing climate if he were in his prime, Tyson humbly answered, "As a fighter, all fighters say they're gonna do well, [but] these guys are pretty big and awkward. Listen, Usyk is not a big guy and he's handling these guys, so I think I would do well, too."

Tyson railed against the International Olympic Committee's consideration to remove boxing from the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, saying it would be a "big loss" for the sport. Still, he admitted that boxing is being "ignored" because most fighters are struggling to reach the superstar level that he and those who came before him achieved.

"Boxing is going back to what it started out to be in the doldrums where people were coming out the gutter, fighting any kind of way," he said. "They're not fighting enough, and it's just like, going back to the old days where people weren't really fighters, just coming out the bar and fighting somebody. It has to be exciting again, boxing has to be, when you mention a match, the whole world is talking about it, it's on everybody's lips. That's what fighters do."

One of the fighters who did that was the legendary George Foreman, who died at the age of 76 on Friday. Tyson paid his respects to Foreman as someone who "just contributed so much to boxing, he can never be forgotten in our particular field." He added that the pioneer's notorious punching power likely will never be duplicated.

"I don't see many people, not even myself. George Foreman, he could just club you and crush your skull," Tyson said. "He was just an amazing powerhouse, and that's just keeping it 100, you're not gonna see [another like him]."

Tyson said he feels that the solution for boxing's problems lies at the amateur level, suggesting, "Bigger amateur organizations, we have to get these young kids started as young as possible. We lost the amateur influence in boxing, there's no more amateur shows."

The legend is doing his part to give back to the next generation, as he recently partnered with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh to open Mike Tyson Boxing Club in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

"I was a little apprehensive at first, but I went and visited, and it was interesting. I was proud of what they had going there and how the children were continuing to learn. It was interesting, I thought it was exciting," Tyson said.

When asked if he had any advice for how an up-and-coming boxer could reach his level of stardom one day, Tyson said the work starts outside of the ring.

"I would let them know, in the journey of being the best in the world in anything… there's gonna be disappointments," he said. "Understand how to handle your disappointments correctly, and your life will be better. And not necessarily in boxing, but in life. Don't be afraid to make amends to people. Life is about being comfortable with you. Being comfortable with yourself, enjoying yourself, and that comes from giving amends, accepting amends, being generous, accepting generosity. It all comes with loving yourself, and by loving yourself, you love so many other people in return."

Jake Paul reached out to boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. when Mike Tyson initially had to pull out of their scheduled fight.

Paul told the New York Post's Erich Richter the idea fell apart because of the proposed weight limit from Mayweather.

"He said he would fight me, but I would have to weigh like 160 pounds, which is physically impossible for me," Paul said.

He ultimately fought Michael Perry last July with Tyson unavailable and finally squared off with "Iron Mike" in November.

Paul and Mayweather wouldn't have had a lot of time to build for for a July event. Tyson backed out in late May, less than two months out from when he was supposed to get in the ring.

Even with that relatively short timeline, though, Paul and Mayweather probably would've had little trouble generating excitement for a matchup.

Boxing fans have wondered whether this will happen ever since the two squared off in 2021 at a press conference for Mayweather's exhibition with Logan Paul.

The two have been locked in a war of words since then.

Most recently, Mayweather suggested in a February appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that Paul would be "too easy" as an opponent, which prompted "The Problem Child" to say he'd knock out the unbeaten star in two rounds.

Despite the taunts, it doesn't look like Mayweather vs. Paul is any closer to happening now than it was in the past. Paul appears to be setting his sights on Anthony Joshua after a deal with Canelo Álvarez fell through.

YouTubers Jake and Logan Paul added a little more fuel to the speculation that they could face each other in a boxing match in the future.

During an interview with TMZ (4:30 mark), the Paul brothers were asked about how much they think a hypothetical fight between them would generate even though their mother, Pamela, likely wouldn't allow them to face each other. Jake responded, "Hundreds of millions," before adding, "And it's not up to our mom."

The Paul brothers have long teased the possibility of settling their differences in the ring, often feeding into fan speculation to continue to generate buzz for the potential matchup. Before announcing their new reality show Paul American on Max, they trolled fans with what looked like a fight poster for their long-awaited bout:

While they won't be facing each other in the boxing ring anytime soon, the Paul brothers can be seen duking it out when Paul American premieres on Max on Thursday.

Logan told TMZ, "We do fight on episode one," and Jake added, "We're fighting verbally," so it can be expected that the show will include some fireworks that fans will be excited to see.

Boxer and social media influencer Jake Paul announced his engagement to Olympic speed skater Jutta Leerdam on Saturday.

Paul posted a photo on X of himself proposing to Leerdam in front of a picturesque backdrop:

Leerdam and Paul first confirmed their relationship back in April 2023 by posting a series of photos of themselves on Instagram.

The 28-year-old Paul first rose to prominence as a YouTuber and actor, but in more recent years, he has become one of the biggest stars in the world of boxing.

Paul made his amateur boxing debut in 2018 before going pro in 2020. Since then, he has compiled an impressive 11-1 record with seven victories by way of knockout.

While he has exceeded expectations, Paul's level of competition has often been criticized since the bulk of his fights have come against former MMA fighters rather than boxers.

Paul owns wins over Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva, Nate Diaz and Mike Perry, although he has expanded his pool of opponents recently.

His first and only loss to date came against Tommy Fury, who is the younger brother of former world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury.

Paul then defeated boxers Andre August and Ryan Bourland before his massive clash with former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson back in November.

Tyson was one of the most dominant boxers of all time during his prime, but the 58-year-old struggled in his first pro fight since 2005, losing to Paul by unanimous decision.

While Paul is making waves and big-time money as a boxer, a strong argument can be made that he is only the second-best athlete in his relationship.

Leerdam, 26, is from the speed skating hotbed of the Netherlands, and she has established herself as a world-class skater since turning pro in 2018.

She won her first and only Olympic medal to date in Beijing in 2022, taking silver in the 1,000-meter event.

Leerdam has also won multiple medals of all colors at the single-distance and sprint world championships, and she is a six-time gold medalist at the European championships as well.

While Leerdam and Paul now have a wedding to plan, Leerdam will also continue her preparations for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics in Italy.

George Foreman, a two-time heavyweight boxing champion and Olympic gold medalist in the ring and an ordained Christian minister and successful entrepreneur out of the squared circle, has died at the age of 76.

Foreman's family confirmed the news via social media on Friday evening.

"Our hearts are broken," the statement began.

"With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved George Edward Foreman Sr. who peacefully departed on March 21, 2025 surrounded by loved ones. A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grand and great grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility, and purpose.

"A humanitarian, an Olympian, and two time heavyweight champion of the world, He was deeply respected — a force for good, a man of discipline, conviction, and a protector of his legacy, fighting tirelessly to preserve his good name—for his family.

"We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers, and kindly ask for privacy as we honor the extraordinary life of a man we were blessed to call our own."

Foreman won Olympic gold at the age of 19 at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. Three of his four matches ended via knockout or referee stoppage.

He turned professional one year later and proceeded to dominate the sport for five years, winning his first 40 matches. Only three of them went to the judges' decision, and all were unanimous.

Foreman notably beat Joe Frazier via second-round TKO to win the WBA, WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles in January 1973. He then successfully defended his titles against José Roman and Ken Norton, who would eventually win the WBC heavyweight belt.

At that juncture, Foreman had won eight straight matches via first- or second-round knockout or TKO. Up next was a date with the iconic Muhammad Ali in the October 1974 Rumble in the Jungle in Zaire.

Foreman was a heavy favorite, but Ali utilized the now infamous "rope-a-dope" tactic en route to winning via eighth-round knockout.

Foreman won his next five matches, but he lost his second career bout in March 1977 to Jimmy Young via unanimous decision.

After the fight, Foreman had a near-death experience in the locker room after suffering from heatstroke.

"I had an experience. In a split-second I was dead and alive," Foreman said during an interview with NBC's TODAY in 2007. "Of course, I'm only witness to it because I was there. All around me there was nothing … I started screaming. Jesus Christ was coming to life in me. I didn't even believe in religion."

Foreman became a born-again Christian and later an ordained minister. He later served as minister of Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in Houston and did not box for 10 years.

At the age of 38, Foreman returned to the boxing ring in March 1987. He proceeded to win 24 of 24 boxing matches over a three-and-a-half year period in an incredible comeback.

That set up a championship match with Evander Holyfield in April 1991 for the WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight titles. Foreman went the distance but lost by unanimous decision.

Foreman then won three straight matches before getting another title shot, this time against Tommy Morrison for the WBO crown in June 1993. Once again, Foreman went the distance, but he lost via unanimous decision.

The third time was the charm, though, in Foreman's second act as a professional boxer.

His next fight occurred in November 1994 against Michael Moorer for the WBA and IBF heavyweight titles. This time, Foreman won via 10th-round knockout, becoming a world champion at 45 years and 299 days old.

With that, Foreman became the oldest fighter in history to win a boxing world championship. That record stood until 2011, when Bernard Hopkins (age 46) won the WBC and The Ring light heavyweight titles against Jean Pascal.

Foreman successfully defended the UBF title against Axel Schulz one year later while winning the (now-defunct) WBU heavyweight crown. He then won the vacant IBA heavyweight title against Crawford Grimsley in 1996.

He wrapped up his illustrious boxing career with two fights in 1997: a split-decision win over Lou Savarese and a majority-decision loss to Shannon Briggs. Foreman finished his career with a 76-5 record (68 knockouts).

In his non-boxing life, Foreman was well-known for the George Foreman Grill, the Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine. He told journalist Graham Bensinger that he earned $5 million per month off the grill.

The grill, obviously, was a massive commercial success, as noted by Trung Phan of Workweek.

In 2023, a biographical film about his life, Big George Foreman, was released. During that year, Foreman also conducted numerous interviews, including one that covered a host of topics with former NFL wide receivers Brandon Marshall and DeSean Jackson for I Am Athlete.

Many people expressed their condolences and remembrances of Foreman upon news of his death:

The beloved boxer is survived by his wife, Mary Joan Martelly. Foreman is the father to 12 children. He is also a grandfather and great-grandfather.

KSI will have to wait a while longer to settle his rivalry with Dillon Danis in the boxing ring.

Misfits Boxing announced on Friday that the Unfinished Business event headlined by KSI vs. Danis on March 29 in Manchester, England, has been postponed due to an illness to KSI. The promotion will announce a new date for the event next week.

KSI released a video explaining the situation, saying that he's been ill for "almost three weeks" and he's "never been this ill for this long in my life." He apologized to his fans, Misfits Boxing and DAZN while making it clear that he wants the fight to be rescheduled "because I still want to knock out Dillon Danis, and I didn't train this hard for nothing."

Per MMA Fighting's Mike Heck, this marks the second time that a scheduled fight between KSI and Danis was called off. The two of them were set to face each other in January 2023 before Danis withdrew from the bout.

Both KSI and Danis have been out of the boxing ring for over a year. Neither of them has competed since The Prime Card in October 2023, where KSI lost to Tommy Fury and Danis lost to Logan Paul.

KSI and Danis were together earlier this month for a pre-fight press conference to promote the event. During their faceoff, they exchanged words before KSI slapped Danis hard in the face, forcing security to intervene.

It's clear that KSI and Danis are motivated to settle their differences, so they will likely meet later this year once KSI has recovered.