“You don’t want to fight Canelo. Come on man, let’s stop this s***,” White added. “If Canelo wants to come over here [to MMA], let’s do it. He don’t want to box Canelo.”

Mexico’s Canelo stressed before his latest win that he had no interest in boxing Usman, as it would do nothing for his legacy in the sport. But “The Nigerian Nightmare” (20-1) won’t give up the cause.

“If I’m gonna leave my daughter for another 12 weeks or more, it’s gotta be something that really gets me up,” he said at the UFC 268 post-event press conference. “I like that, I wanna challenge myself.

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“I know a lot of people gonna are talk down or say it’s bulls*** … Don’t get me wrong, he’s a master. I respect it. Last time I was an underdog we saw what happened. We’re the ones willing to go over there and take that risk, they won’t dare take that risk.”

Canelo reportedly earned US$40 million for his efforts against Plant, and Usman knows the 31-year-old would be a far bigger payday than facing any of his top rivals in the welterweight division, most of whom he has already beaten.

“Of course we want the money,” he said, responding to a media member asking, mischievously, if he would take on Canelo for charity. “I absolutely want to test myself.

“You guys don’t understand, unless you fight, the feeling that it is to be back there all freaking day. The feeling you have in your stomach, you wanna s*** you wanna p***, but nothing comes out. You’re nervous, your stomach is in knots.

“There’s something about that feeling. Every aspect of it, you hate it. Then you’re done, and the next day it wasn’t that bad, I’ll do it again. Something about that feeling that’s addictive.

“Canelo’s a big scary guy, and he knows I’m a big scary guy if he ever came over here.”