Oleksandr Usyk's brutal message to Jake Paul ahead of Mike Tyson fight

Heavyweight boxing star Oleksandr Usyk has issued a hard-hitting message to Jake Paul ahead of his upcoming fight against veteran world champion Mike Tyson - "STOP boxing".

The social media star turned boxer has made a name for himself by battling other influencers and MMA fighters, and his clash with the 58 year old Tyson in Texas this summer has received mixed reactions within the boxing community.

Usyk, who is gearing up for a fight against Tyson Fury later this month in a heavyweight undisputed battle, didn't mince words while participating in a promo video for the fight. In a word-association game, when queried about his thoughts on Paul, he responded concisely with: "Stop boxing". On the topic of KSI, Paul's fierce rival, he referred to him as a "blogger".

Usyk has been held in the wings for over a year for his own showdown with Fury after it was initially scheduled for April of the previous year. They were then set to match up two days prior to Christmas, but after a gruelling bout against Francis Ngannou in October, Fury requested a postponement.

His faceoff with Usyk was subsequently arranged for February 17, before the British heavyweight withdrew following an injury sustained during one of his final training sessions. The Fury-Usyk match, scheduled for May 18, will see both fighters attempting to become the first four-belt and undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999. Usyk also aims to emulate Evander Holyfield by becoming undisputed heavyweight champion after conquering the cruiserweight division.

"I'm not 100 per cent sure [the fight will happen]," Usyk has said in the build-up. "I will be sure when I'm the ring. I will stand in one corner, Fury will stand in the opposite corner, between