KAMARU USMAN urged Canelo Alvarez to ‘give the world a show’ as he called out the boxer to a Mexican Independence Day fight.
The UFC champion wants to face Canelo in September, on the weekend of the landmark holiday.
He told BT Sport: “Mexican Independence Day, I think it’s only right for me and Canelo to give the world a show, give the world the entertainment they so desire.
“You know, I’ve said it before, it can’t be done until someone does do it. I respect him, he’s a great champion, he’s the pound-for-pound best.
“I have to show him that respect but he needs to show me that respect as well.”
Canelo has refused to rule out the crossover fight but claimed Usman is only after a ‘payday’.
He said on the MMA Hour: “Maybe. Why not? You never say no. My trainer told me about it and I said, ‘Well, if you say.’”
Canelo, 31, added: “It’s not really on my mind. I want a really good legacy for my career and we can talk about other things later.”
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
UFC legend Conor McGregor, 33, in 2017 was given permission to fight boxing icon Floyd Mayweather, 45, but lost in ten rounds.
Usman, the UFC’s No1 rated fighter, eyes a similar bout with Canelo after the door was left open for talks.
He said: “I think he said this week, yeah that’s a fight they brought to him that he’s interested in.
“So yeah, let’s make it happen, if he’s interested, his camp is interested, we’re interested, let’s make it happen.
“Never before have pound-for-pound – in their respected sports – ever got together like this.”
UFC fighters are prohibited from competing outside of the promotion unless given special exemption, like McGregor was.
Usman, 34, admitted talks with the UFC and promoter Dana White are yet to take place but urged his boss to get on board.
He said: “Well, those conversations are still to be had.
“But, you know like I’ve said, this fight will be the greatest and the biggest fight ever in the history of combat sports.
“And that’s because we’ve got to have the biggest and the baddest promoter ever in the history of combat sports, Dana White, behind us.”
Usman’s last fight, a win against Colby Covington, 34, in November fell on the same night Canelo beat Caleb Plant, 29.
White was pictured watching Canelo’s win from cageside and warned Usman against ever fighting the boxing star.
He joked: “I watched the Canelo fight tonight. You don’t want to fight Canelo.
“Come on, man, let’s stop this s***. If Canelo wants to come over here, let’s do it. He don’t want to box Canelo.”
