Billionaires and social media business rivals Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk threw new online jabs at each other Sunday, with the Meta founder declaring the owner of X - formerly known as Twitter - was not treating a proposed charity cage match seriously.

I think we can all agree Elon isnt serious and its time to move on, Zuckerberg wrote on his Threads social platform.

I offered a real date¦ Elon wont confirm a date, then says he needs surgery, and now asks to do a practice round in my backyard instead.

Musk quickly responded on X, the platform he bought last year that was previously called Twitter.

Zuck is a chicken, Musk posted.

The Tesla boss said he would head to Silicon Valley Monday: Cant wait to bang on his door tomorrow.

When an X user suggested Zuckerberg was getting cold feet about the match, Musk referred to a popular US fast food chain known for its chicken offerings.

He cant eat at Chick-fil-A because that would be cannibalism, Musk posted.

The two tech titans have gone back and forth on social media about fighting each other in a much-hyped charity match.

Musk said Friday the fight would take place in Italy, as authorities there confirmed talks about hosting a great charity event.

I spoke to the PM of Italy and Minister of Culture, Musk wrote, referring to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. They have agreed on an epic location.

In response, Zuckerberg posted a photo of himself shirtless and pinning down an opponent in his backyard octagon.

A martial arts enthusiast who has taken part in jiujitsu competitions, Zuckerberg said, I love this sport and Ive been ready to fight since the day Elon challenged me.

If he ever agrees on an actual date, youll hear it from me. Until then, please assume anything he says has not been agreed on.

Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano confirmed speaking to Musk about how to organize a great charity event evoking history but said any match will not be held in Rome.

Sangiuliano said any event with Musk would raise a huge sum, many millions of euros, (that) will be donated to two important Italian pediatric hospitals.

The two tech tycoons, who have occasionally jousted from afar, became direct competitors after Zuckerbergs Meta launched its Twitter-like Threads platform in early July.

Musk noted on Friday that he may need to undergo minor surgery to resolve a problem with my right shoulder blade rubbing against my ribs.

Recovery will only take a few months, he added.

The worlds richest person has a titanium plate holding two vertebrae together but said Friday it is currently not an issue. (AFP)