JAKE PAUL has put the fight world on notice with his brash arrogance and unlimited self-confidence.
Despite having only beaten YouTuber ‘AnEsonGib’ and ex-NBA star Nate Robinson, Paul has done so in style.
And the thunder he appears to be stealing from boxing and MMA’s top attractions has irked several of them.
Paul has made it clear his intention is to eventually fight UFC superstar Conor McGregor.
But next up is former MMA star Ben Askren on Saturday night.
But the internet phenomenon is not short of alternatives, and here SunSport runs down the queue waiting in line.
Dillon Danis, Bellator welterweight
If Paul, 24, can’t get hold of McGregor, 32, the next best thing would be his close friend and training partner Danis, 27.
The pair have been going back-and-forth for years, and recently confronted each other on the streets of LA.
After Paul’s last win, he said: “There’s a long list of opponents that I want – Conor McGregor, Dillon Danis. I’m going to knock them both out.”
Danis’ Bellator promoter Scott Coker recently confirmed the fight talks: “Those conversations are ongoing, and have been happening.”
Claressa Shields, 3-weight women’s champion
Shields, 25, who just announced plans to debut in MMA next year, told TMZ she would more than welcome a mixed-gender showdown with Paul.
She said: “I, Claressa Shields, will whoop Jake Paul’s ass.
“He can come in the ring weighing 180lb and I will come weighing 168 and I will beat the s**t out of him.”
Paul responded in a tweet: “Don’t get me started about @Claressashields.”
Amanda Nunes, 2-weight UFC champion
Having grown tired of Paul’s online callouts of McGregor, UFC president White said to TMZ Sports : “I’m thinking of letting Amanda Nunes knock his ass out.”
To which Nunes, 32, responded: “I’m in! @ufc @danawhite.”
Paul later remarked on Instagram: “You say you don’t want me to fight Conor McGregor because he’s one of the greatest fighters in the world, and I’m just a YouTuber or whatever.
“But then, in a statement today, you say, ‘Oh, I’m thinking about having Amanda Nunes just knock him out,’ but she’s also one of the greatest fighters?”
Ben Askren, retired UFC welterweight
Askren – an accomplished grappler – announced his retirement from MMA in 2019.
And despite having never been considered a gifted striker, the 36-year-old still believes he would comfortably beat the ‘YouTube bum’.
Askren told MMA Fighting: “Jake Paul wants to box me. I don’t know, I’m not a boxer but I could beat up a bum YouTube celebrity…
“I could box some YouTube bum and get paid for it? What a tremendous livelihood.”
Tonight, we will see what Askren is made of.
Nate Diaz, UFC welterweight
The UFC veteran surprisingly leapt to the defence of his former rival McGregor, after Paul called him an ‘Irish c***’ and disrespected his fiancee Dee Devlin.
Diaz, 35, tweeted: “Jake Paul u need your ass beat for free u spoiled f*** u can’t really fight dumbs*** your gonna end up with your ass whooped for real somewhere talking like that.”
Paul fired back by telling Diaz ‘I really beat your boy up’ in a sparring session relating to the UFC star’s training partner.
He later tweeted Diaz: ‘You can get the smoke too’.
Henry Cejudo, ex-UFC champion
Cejudo announced a shock UFC retirement in May – but appears open to crossing over to boxing.
And he was left less than impressed with Paul’s KO over Robinson and claimed he would give his fight purse to charity if the YouTuber beat him.
Cejudo, 34, tweeted: “Yo @jakepaul since you really think you’re a legit fighter by beating up on retired NBA D lister’s who really deserves an academy award for best fall.
“How about we fight and if I can’t stop you I’ll give all money to charity of your choice.”
Antonio Tarver, retied boxing legend
Tarver called on Mike Tyson to set up a fight between him and Paul.
He has not fought since 2015, but would come out of retirement to stop the new age of outsiders venturing into the ring.
Tarver, 52, wrote on Instagram: “I really want to kick @jakepaul ass for what he did to @naterobinson last night and rid boxing of these clowns once and for all.
“He fought a complete novice so fighting me shouldn’t be a problem… @miketyson make this fight.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
