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News, Blog and GuidesThe YouTuber turned prized fighter continues to polarize but maybe it’s time to take him seriously.
Paul RudderEnglish_ASUpdate: Sep 17th, 2021 23:55 EDT
Having moved on from the idea of a rematch with Tyron Woodley, Jake Paul discussed his future hit list in an interview with ESPN.
A ‘Gentleman’s Agreement’
Post fight, Paul and Woodley appeared to agree to a rematch – which Woodley demanded – after Paul had defeated Woodley via split decision on Aug. 29. In response to Woodley’s requestPaul stated that Woodley would have to tattoo the words “I Love Jake Paul” somewhere on his body. Both fighters then shook hands. “I’m over it,” Paul said. “I’m leaving Tyron in the past. He didn’t live up to the bet — he didn’t get the tattoo. So, the rematch just doesn’t make sense anymore,” Paul stated when asked.
Polar Opposites
Paul, who came to fame via his career as a YouTuber continues to divide opinion, while seemingly forcing his increased consideration as decent prizefighter. Woodley by contrast is a seasoned fighter. The former UFC welterweight champion who in fact was making his professional boxing debut at the time. The bet itself was first mentioned at a July press conference in Los Angeles.
Jake Paul nixes Tyron Woodley rematch: ‘The guy wasn’t a man of his word’ on tattoo bet https://t.co/0PRFC26dCZ pic.twitter.com/hxTblfkNIo
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) September 14, 2021
“If he would have gotten the tattoo right away, got 10 million views on his Instagram video, everyone would have been super hyped, there would have been a ton of press around it,” Paul stated. “And I would have been sort of forced to do it. I couldn’t really deny him then, because if he’s going to be a man of his word, then I have to be a man of my word. So, he f—ed up. He missed out on another big payday because of his ego.”
So who’s next?
When asked who he would fight next Paul simply said “options.” According to sources, one of those options is none other than Tommy Fury. Fury who is in fact the half brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, is a reality TV star in the UK.
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“He is the quote-unquote boxer,” Paul said. “He comes from a legendary bloodline. People keep saying, ‘Fight a real boxer, fight a real boxer.’ So that fight is definitely interesting to me. I don’t know if his name is big enough. We’re still looking at the pay-per-view numbers that came in from the UK.”
Also on the hit list is legend Vitor Belfort, who at 44 called out Paul after victory in his own fight against former world heavyweight champion, Evander Holyfield. Belfort’s promotion company, Triller Fight Club has pledged $30 million for a winner-take-all match. “It could be a possibility,” Paul stated. “But honestly, Triller doesn’t have that money. There’s no possible way. It’s just a smart play on their end. It’s not really that interesting of a fight, in my opinion. Vitor, again, is old and washed up. He was a big name at one point, but not for this sort of new combat sports world. He’s a little bit too old. It’s not that exciting. He’s an easier fight than Tyron. So, I don’t know.”
You played yourself. It’s super necessary you get your boss Dana to give you permission to get in the ring with me since you supposed to be nice with your “hands” https://t.co/nWup8UT1nQ pic.twitter.com/1ZerG8oaaH
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) August 26, 2021
