Kamaru Usman has been mocked by Khamzat Chimaev who has sarcastically claimed Canelo Alvarez should be "scared" of his boxing technique.
The Nigerian star is out of action after hand surgery but is expected to return to the octagon later this year against Leon Edwards. After that title defence, Usman is eyeing a crossover clash against Alvarez and has frequently called out the Mexican in recent months.
Chimaev has mocked Usman on Twitter posting a video of Usman training on the pads with boxing gloves on, captioned: "Canelo should be very afraid this is the guy to knock him out." The welterweight champion can be seen in the video throwing tentative jabs and one-two combinations on the pads while moving around the ring and developing his footwork.
Rising Swedish star Chimaev will target a title shot later this year if he can defeat No.2 ranked contender Gilbert Burns next month. A lack of challengers to Usman's crown following his wins over Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal means the Nigerian is looking elsewhere.
Usman is targeting a bout with Alvarez after his clash against Edwards and plans to consult UFC president Dana White after making another defence of his title later this year. He is confident of securing an upset victory in the boxing ring and has compared any victory to his previous tilt with Tyron Woodley.
“See, that’s the thing about this crazy thing that we do; sports," Usman explained in an interview with ESPN MMA. "And not just sports; fighting. No one knows the size of the dog inside you, no one knows it. When you tell people your plans they’re not going believe it because they don’t see it.
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"They can’t do it, they don’t do what you do, they don’t walk in your shoes, they don’t walk in your heart and your energy each and every day, no one knows that, no one sees it. "I knew I was going to beat Tyron Woodley four years before that fight, I told him, even when he wasn't champion I said while we were doing press conferences I told him I'd dominate him start to finish. It can happen, and it will happen."
Alvarez has refused to rule out a clash with Usman but is currently focusing on expanding his boxing legacy. Any clash will likely be next year or in the future with Alvarez set to face Dmitry Bivol on May 7 before facing a trilogy with bitter rival Gennady Golovkin.
His current promoter Eddie Hearn has now also confirmed that they would be open to discuss the fight.
"He's under contract with UFC, but if Dana White wants to do it, we'd love to discuss it," Hearn told The DAZN Boxing Show. The thing I say about Canelo is, even when you mention Jake Paul to him, he doesn't belittle these fights. Never say never."
