JAKE PAUL has put the fight world on notice with his brash arrogance and unlimited self-confidence.
Paul has now beaten AnEsonGib, Nate Robinson, Ben Askren, and UFC star Tyron Woodley TWICE.
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 – with the duo’s teams ‘constantly’ in talks.
While he was set to take on Tommy Fury before the ex-Love Island contestant dropped out due to visa issues.
Here’s a look at some of those who claimed to want a piece of the YouTuber.
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Dillon Danis, Bellator welterweight
If Paul, 25, can’t get hold of McGregor, the next best thing would be his close friend and training partner Danis, 29.
The pair have been going back-and-forth and confronted each other on the streets of LA earlier last year.
After Paul’s win over Robinson, 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 confirmed the fight talks: “Those conversations are ongoing, and have been happening.”
And Danis made another dig at Paul, tweeting a photo of plenty of available seats for Paul’s second fight against Woodley alongside the message: “damn @jakepaul thought you sold out arena’s 😂”.
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Claressa Shields, 3-weight women’s champion
Shields, 27, who made her MMA debut kast year in the PFL, 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, UFC featherweight champion
Having grown tired of Paul’s online callouts of McGregor, UFC president White told TMZ Sports: “I’m thinking of letting Amanda Nunes knock his ass out.”
To which Nunes, 34, 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?”
Kamaru Usman, UFC welterweight champion and p4p No1
UFC pound-for-pound No1 Kamaru Usman offered Jake Paul a chilling warning during a back and forth between the pair.
He said: “I understand you think this is a game which is probably why you don’t realize that this is how people truly get hurt.
“I don’t play fighting and I can change your life in the worst way.”
Iron Mike Tyson is behind the match-up, telling Henry Cejudo on his podcast: “I want to see that s**t.
“It’s going to be so much f**king money, how can he turn it down?
“That’s way more money than… it’s twice or three times as much money [than he earns] in the UFC. So, how could he turn it down?”
Nate Diaz, UFC welterweight
The UFC veteran surprisingly leaped to the defence of his former rival McGregor, after Paul called him an ‘Irish c***’ and disrespected his fiancee Dee Devlin.
Diaz 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’.
The legendary MMA star from Stockton, California is set to have his hands full, however, with a blockbuster bout at 170lbs against Dustin Poirier potentially in the works.
Henry Cejudo, ex-UFC champion
Tyson’s pal Cejudo announced a shock UFC retirement in 2020 – 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, 35, 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, 53, 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
