JAKE PAUL insisted there is just one final obstacle standing in the way of a huge KSI fight – but warned he is on his last “take-it-or-leave it” offer.
The pair of YouTubers-turned-boxers have spent years feuding which has fuelled demand for a blockbuster bout believed to be worth £100million,
But talks have dragged on with the latest hurdle being the weight disparity between them.
Paul’s last three fights have been at the 200lb cruiserweight limit of 14st 4lb while he prepares to move up to heavyweight to face Mike Tyson.
KSI, meanwhile, suffered his first defeat in his last fight when he lost via a controversial decision to Tommy Fury at a 183lb catchweight.
Paul is adamant that for the fight to happen it can only take place between the cruiserweight range of 176lb-200lb.
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He said at a Professional Fighters League event: “I think it’s just down to weight now.
“Because I’m so much heavier and KSI also says he’s walking around at 205 – and that’s what his coach said on an interview – so you know that’s the truth.
“I’m walking around at like 215. So I think it’s just a weight thing. I think it’s like 195-200lbs. And that’s really the last thing in the way.
“Well, that’s what we said to him. We said this is a cruiserweight fight unless we go down to 175.
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“But I can’t get down there by any means. So we just said cruiserweight, professional cruiserweight fight, take it or leave it.”
KSI, 31, has not returned since suffering defeat to Fury, 25, in October.
He was due to on August 31 in Dublin against Anthony Taylor and Slim Albaher in a wild two-on-one bout.
But KSI was agonisingly forced to pull out of the event with an excruciating hand injury.
Meanwhile Paul, 27, takes on Tyson, 58, in Texas on November 15 in a controversial clash scrutinised for the three-decade age gap.
But KSI is not so convinced the fight for the ages will go ahead after Iron Mike pulled out of the original July 20 date amid a health scare.
He told us: “Jake’s just getting heavier and heavier and heavier, obviously, because he’s just looking at the Mike Tyson fight – which I still don’t think is gonna happen.
“I think they’re gonna try and make an ordeal, and then eventually Mike will realise he actually can’t fight, and then I don’t know what they’re gonna do then.
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“But for me, the Jake fight, I’m just gonna wait. I don’t really need to chase him, eventually he’s gonna have no other options, but to have to come to me.
“He’s just not trying to get involved. He’s in a bit of an awkward situation, so I think for him it’s probably easier if he just leaves it.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
