UFC champion Kamaru Usman claimed boxing is dying despite calling a fight with the sport's biggest star Canelo Alvarez - and Jake Paul has called him out on the contradiction.
Usman has been pushing for a crossover fight with pound-for-pound No.1 Alvarez since last November. The UFC champion's manager recently accusing the boxing star of being a "chicken", causing a back and forth between the two fighters on Twitter.
Alvarez, who fights Dmitry Bivol next weekend, has refused to rule out a fight with Usman but told him to wait in line as he continues to build his boxing legacy. Usman accused him of not wanting a "real fight" whilst criticising the matchmaking in boxing compared to the UFC.
"Our fans know who the best is because “the best fight the best” not run and hide and fight nobody’s with those plastic belts & call themselves “super champion”," Usman wrote. "Keep quiet next time and if you need lessons on how to save that dying sport let me know I’ve got Dana on speed dial."
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Jake Paul was quick to comment on Usman's contradiction, as he wrote to the UFC star: "Kamaru Usman: 'boxing is dying'. Also Kamaru Usman: 'please Canelo fight me for a payday'".
It's well documented that boxers are compensated better than UFC fighters, something Paul has attempted to resolve by challenging UFC boss Dana White to increase the amount his fighters are paid.
Usman reportedly earned a guaranteed $500,000 before additional bonuses for his last UFC fight, whilst Alvarez pocketed $40million for his unification fight against Caleb Plant. It's therefore unsurprising that Alvarez thinks Usman is only trying to fight him to pocket a large payday.
Several UFC fighters have tried to follow Conor McGregor's footsteps by moving to boxing after he earned $100million for boxing Floyd Mayweather in 2017. White thinks Usman shouldn't be serious about calling out Alvarez and labelled the crossover fight as "horrible".
"[Usman] is serious about it, he shouldn't be serious about it," White told Sky Sports. "I don't like that fight at all. Everything about it is horrible. It's a stupid fight to make, it makes no sense. I don't know how many people would be interested in seeing that.
"When Conor and Floyd fought it took on a life of its own. It ended up being the biggest pay-per-view ever. Something could come along but the whole Boxing vs MMA thing is silly."
