Influencers

JAKE PAUL has claimed he is the “best fighter in the world” – and has a list of reasons to back it up. The YouTuber-turned boxer is 8-1 in his career and has set out lofty goals of becoming world champion.
Jake Paul has claimed he is the ‘best fighter in the world’Credit: Getty
And Paul has insisted he is just like “every fighter” who wants to reach the pinnacle of the sport – before making perhaps his most outlandish claim yet.
He told Fox Sports Australia: “I’m the best in the world.
“That’s what I believe. And that’s what every fighter who gets to where they want to be believes.
“And you have to believe it before the statistics or rounds of fights put you there.
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“I believe all things considered, my natural ability, my talent, my IQ, all of these things, my ability to learn, to adapt, my toughness, preparation, my will power, my team, all of the things behind me, I believe that I am the best fighter in the world.”
Paul, 27, suffered defeat for the first time last February, losing a split-decision to Tommy Fury, 24.
He then bounced back in August to beat ex-UFC star Nate Diaz, 38, on points over ten rounds.
But Paul soon announced a switch in his career path and planned to fight lesser-known but seasoned boxers to build experience.
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It started with 10-1-1 Andre August, 35, who he knocked out in round one in December, kickstarting what he claimed is his road to the world title.
Paul now returns on March 2 on the undercard of Amanda Serrano’s Puerto Rico homecoming against 17-2 Ryan Bourland.
Jake Paul performs gruelling ab workout as he prepares for ring return
And his masterplan is to hold a world title by the age of 30, but business parter Nakisa Bidarian warned it could come as early as next year.
And Bidarian compared Paul’s trajectory to former IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia, 28.
He said: “Jake’s goal is to be world champion by the time he’s 30. He’s just turned 27. So it could be 28 or 29 years old.
“I think Jai has 55 fights between amateur and pro. Jake though, after this fight is ten fights in.
“But if you look at where Jai was ten fights in compared to where Jake is, when you see those two paths merging, Jake is going to surpass anyone performing well in the cruiserweight division currently.” More

JAKE PAUL has given boxing fans a sneak peek into his latest gruelling training camp.The YouTube sensation returns to the ring on March 2 on the undercard of Amanda Serrano’s featherweight clash with Nina Meinke.
Jake Paul returns to the ring on March 2Credit: REUTERS
The YouTuber-turned-boxer is leaving no stone unturned ahead of his ring returnCredit: X@JAKEPAUL
Paul recently shared footage of one of his gruelling ab workouts to X and InstagramCredit: X@JAKEPAUL
Paul, 27, will lock horns with little-known professional boxer Ryan Bourland – who boasts a record of 17 wins and two losses.
Despite his next opponent not having a big name, The Problem Child is leaving no stone unturned in training.
The former Disney star shared a clip of himself performing explosive standing oblique twists with a weighted duffle bag on his X and Instagram pages on Wednesday.
His accompanying caption read: “24 days. Ready to eat.”
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Paul’s legion of followers were quick to comment, with one saying: “Respect the work!”
Another said: “Jake Paul my GOAT.”
And another said: “Beast mode
One remarked: “When you see him… it’s pure dedication to work.”
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Jake Paul plans to take out Ryan Bourland in double quick timeCredit: GETTY
Another chimed in: “Genuinely believe Jake will become a world champion.
“If you have a problem with that bookmark this tweet.”
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Social media sensation Paul will enter his clash with Bourland on the back of a first-round knockout of Andre August last December.
And he plans to continue his post-Tommy Fury loss rebuild by taking out Bourland in a similar fashion.
In his fight announcement, Paul said: “The goal is simple, build the skillset to become world champion.
“Next up is a guy who has twice as many professional fights under his belt than I do. Ryan “The Rhino” Bourland.
“And just like the animal in his bone-chilling nickname… he is also endangered.” More

BOXING fans have called for John Fury’s phone to be taken off him after he revealed his demands to fight Mike Tyson’s friend Joe Egan. John – father to Tyson and Tommy Fury – once claimed to be the fittest man his age and challenged anyone to prove him otherwise.
John Fury responded to Joe Egan’s challenge
Irish heavyweight Egan – a former sparring partner of Tyson’s – recently offered to take up 59-year-old John’s offer and called for a fight.
That sparked interest from YouTuber-turned boxer KSI’s Misfits promotion who claimed an offer to stage the bout would be sent.
John has now addressed the challenge for the first time but insisted he will only come to the negotiation table once KSI pays up a previous £200,000 wager.
He said: “Okay Joe Egan, here’s where it’s at.
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“You’re saying KSI is backing you for millions of pounds when he can’t pay me my 200 (thousand) that they owe me. But here’s one for you, mate.
“Tell that rat next to you, that pineapple wire me my money across that he owes me and once it’s in my account, then we might be able to do some business.
“But until I get my 200 nothing’s happening. But if I do get my 200 what he needs to do then is put an offer in writing to me what he is prepared to offer me to fight you.
“I’m not hard to do business with, mate. And at the end of the day, like you say you want to make a few quid and I will fight anybody if it makes business sense.
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“So here’s what they’ve got to do, because I said I’d never do any more business with that rat, ever. But you’re there going on, on the internet making yourself busy, now it’s personal, Joe.
“Because at the end of the day, you better hope he does back you for millions because you’re gonna have to fight me anyway when you see me, ain’t you, for being disrespectful.
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“Joe, you’re going to have to fight me when you see me. So let’s hope they can, so we can make a few quid out of it. Because when I see you, mate it’s coats off, telling you now.”
The threat did little to impress fans, as one said: “Please take his phone off him. Please.”
Another added: “All talk that bloke.”
John bet KSI £200,000 that his son Tommy would stop him in their celebrity grudge match.
Tommy did walk away victorious but on points, meaning the wager was never paid.
John has recently been embroiled in a war of words with former super-middleweight champion Carl Froch amid criticism of son Tyson.
And last year he called out heavyweight legend Tyson but Iron Mike recently responded and challenged him to fight Egan instead.
KSI and Misfits Boxing are prepared to back me to the tune of millions pounds to make the fight between me and you. Joe Egan to John Fury
Egan – a former amateur champion – mocked John’s string of social media callouts and instead told him to accept Misfits’ multimillion deal.
He said: “John Fury, why are you avoiding me? Saying there’s no money in fighting me.
“I’ve stepped up to the mark, John and accepted your challenge. You’re saying now there’s no money in fighting me.
“Well, I beg to differ, John. Because KSI and Misfits Boxing are prepared to back me to the tune of millions pounds to make the fight between me and you.
“You’re throwing out challenges to Mike Tyson, now to Carl Froch, who you gonna challenge next? Carl Frampton? Sylvester Stallone? Rocky Balboa?
“Step up to the mark John, to the challenge that’s in front of you. Don’t swerve me, John. Because I’m ready to fight.
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“You threw out the gauntlet, you threw out the challenge. Now I’m here, in front of you, John.
“And Misfits Boxing and KSI are backing me. Now fight me John.”
Mike Tyson with former sparring partner Joe EganCredit: Joe Egan More

JAKE PAUL’S next opponent was forced into a major career change before making a boxing comeback for the fight of his life. The YouTuber-turned boxer returns on March 2 on the undercard of Amanda Serrano’s Puerto Rico homecoming.
Ryan Bourland is the boxer who is set to face Jake Paul nextCredit: Facebook
He turned to working on the oil rigs after briefly retiring from boxingCredit: Facebook
And he will do so against his most experienced opponent yet in Ryan Bourland, who holds a record of 17-2.
Bourland is a former amateur champion but in 2018 he hung up his gloves and worked on the oil rigs.
He said: “Boxing is not easy.
“Taking punches isn’t the most fun thing to do, and I’ve been doing it for a long time, but I’m not making that much money.
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“I haven’t had health insurance for a while.”
On working on the oil rigs, Bourland said: “It’s dangerous and hard work, but boxing is dangerous and is really hard work.
“After they saw my resume, I got a couple of calls, and they told me ‘You are exactly what we are looking for.’
“My dad told me, ‘You’re crazy. You know how cold it is up there?’
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“So I went out and bought a bunch of thermals and stuff like that, so hopefully I will be prepared.
“I got a call about fighting for a belt in Las Vegas, but it’s only for about $10,000.
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“By the time I pay my team and train for two months, it’s not that much.”
Bourland did make a return in 2022 and defeated Santario Martin, his third win on the spin.
Paul, 27, meanwhile suffered his first defeat last year, losing a split-decision to Tommy Fury, 24, in Saudi Arabia.
He bounced back six months later to beat ex-UFC star Nate Diaz, 38, on points over ten rounds.
But in his next fight, Paul announced plans to take a more traditional boxing approach to face more seasoned but less-known opposition.
That started in December when he took on 10-1-1 boxer Andre August, 35, who he knocked out in the first round.
Now Bourland, 35, will be the next man in line to face Paul, who has been insistent on one day challenging for a world title.
Jake Paul knocked out Andre August in his last fightCredit: Getty More