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    Jake Paul says he’d KO Conor McGregor with hand tied behind his back in boxing ring but offers to fight UFC star in cage

    JAKE PAUL says he would knock out Conor McGregor with one hand tied behind his back in the boxing ring – but instead offered to fight in the cage. The YouTuber-turned boxer found himself weighing in on a verbal feud between rival KSI and McGregor.
    Jake Paul has called out Conor McGregorCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Conor McGregor was in a war of words with KSI onlineCredit: Instagram / @thenotoriousmma
    The Irishman slammed the new age of influencer boxing scene as his training partner Dillon Danis prepares to face KSI.
    KSI, 29, tweeted: “I’m sorry but I’m about do some serious damage to your boy.”
    McGregor, 34, replied: “Brother you’re a friendly little nerd I don’t care.
    “He should be back doing MMA if he is doing this little nothing burger match with you.
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    “I couldn’t care less about this genre of boxing, I am sorry. Have a good one.”
    When a fan predicted McGregor would one day find himself in the crossover boxing space, he responded: “Ah go on then, will there be belts? hahahaha.”
    Paul, 25, snapped back: “You fight for belts? Last time you fought for a belt was 4 years ago. Lost 3 of your last 4 fights.
    “I would knock you out in the squared circle with one hand tied behind my back.
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    “To be fair, in the cage I would need two hands. But same result.”
    McGregor lost his one and only professional boxing bout to American legend Floyd Mayweather, 45, in 2017.
    He is set to make a UFC comeback in 2023 following over a year out due to the horror leg break he suffered in his last fight.
    Paul meanwhile is eyeing a February return fight having last beaten UFC icon Anderson Silva, 47, in October.
    Jake Paul beat UFC legend Anderson Silva in his last fightCredit: Esther Lin/ SHOWTIME More

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    Conor McGregor’s training partner Dillon Danis reveals he signed to fight Logan Paul until WWE star injured his knee

    DILLON DANIS revealed he “100 per cent signed” to fight Logan Paul until injury scrapped the boxing bout. Paul was due to co-headline a pay-per-view event alongside his former opponent-turned business partner KSI.
    Logan Paul was set to fight Dillon Danis before suffering a knee injuryCredit: Splash
    Dillon Danis pictured with Conor McGregorCredit: Social Media
    But the YouTube star suffered a horror knee injury when challenging Roman Reigns for the Undisputed Universal title.
    Paul underwent surgery and it forced his boxing return to be scrapped, so Danis instead agreed to fight KSI on January 14 in London.
    He told the MMA Hour: “I was supposed to fight Logan. I don’t know if you know this. Logan was completely signed, 100 per cent signed.
    “And we were going to announce it on the same date then he did that match with Roman Reigns, and he blew his knee out.
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    “And then they were like, ‘Do you want to wait for Logan?’ so I could have waited for Logan.
    “But he was like ‘I don’t know about my knee; I could be out for six months.’ I’m like ‘dude I’ve been out long enough, I’m going to fight’ so I took KSI.
    “I wanted Logan more because we had more beef with the Pauls and stuff.
    “It would have been in Houston where the Houston Rockets play, the Toyota Centre.
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    “I’d rather be here, I don’t want to go to London, but I run London too.”
    Paul, 27, has not boxed since taking American legend Floyd Mayweather, 45, the distance in their June 2021 exhibition.
    Danis, 27, meanwhile has a 2-0 MMA record but has not fought since 2019 after suffering from knee injuries himself.
    The jujitsu expert, most commonly known as Conor McGregor’s training partner, is set to make his boxing debut against KSI, 29.
    Dillon Danis pictured in training with Conor McGregorCredit: Instagram @dillondanis More

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    Jake Paul’s coach teases February 18 return fight as YouTube star starts training camp for next boxing bout

    JAKE PAUL’S trainer BJ Flores has teased a February 18 return fight for the YouTube star. Paul, 25, most recently beat UFC legend Anderson Silva, 47, in October, the biggest win in his 6-0 career.
    Boxing trainer BJ Flores with Jake PaulCredit: Instagram / @bjflorespro

    Now the American is back in training camp in his adopted base of Puerto Rico ahead of his next bout.
    And coach Flores, a former cruiserweight contender himself, may have given away the mystery date.
    In a now-deleted post, he tweeted ring card girl Jessica Yazmine: “Come to the Jake Paul fight Feb 18. Dm me if interested.”
    Paul boxed only once last year, due to Tommy Fury, 23, and Hasim Rahman Jr, 31, withdrawing from proposed fights.
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    It leaves the social media sensation-turned boxer wasting no time in getting back in the ring next year.
    Paul already confirmed he will fight again in February and sent offers to three different opponents.
    And one of them was celebrity boxing rival Fury with the two still in talks to reschedule their grudge match.
    The 8-0 Brit first pulled out last December with a rib injury and then again in August amid a US visa issue, which still persists today.
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    So Fury’s promoter Frank Warren is trying to negotiate a deal to fight Paul in the UK.
    Warren told Queensberry’s YouTube channel: “Everyone’s trying to make this fight happen.
    “I mean we had it, it was made a few months ago but he wasn’t allowed to travel, Tommy.
    “So we’re trying to do it over here now, trying to get it on. We’re working hard to see if we can get it done.”
    Tommy Fury and Jake Paul are still in talks to fightCredit: Amanda Westcott More

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    Jake Paul suggests Lionel Messi is ‘greatest athlete ever’ as YouTube boxing star makes Muhammad Ali comparison

    YOUTUBER-turned boxer Jake Paul has suggested Lionel Messi is the ‘greatest athlete ever’The Argentina legend, 35, has been an inspiration for club and country.
    Lionel Messi has been called the greatest athlete of all timeCredit: Reuters
    YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul tweeted his thoughts on Messi and compared him to Muhammad AliCredit: EPA
    However, Paul believes Ali was more impactful in sportCredit: Getty
    For Barcelona he scored an amazing 672 goals, while the seven-time Ballon d’or winner was instrumental in his country winning the World Cup in a dramatic penalty shootout against France.
    And now, he’s seemingly got a fan in social media king Paul.
    While watching the World Cup final, The Problem Child couldn’t help but heap praise on Messi.
    He wrote on Twitter: “Hard to admit as an American..but Messi may be the greatest athlete ever. 5’7, 148 lbs..Greatest non-penalty scorer of all time, greatest assister of all time.
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    “In a sport that has more people playing it than any other. GAOAT. Agree?”
    However, Paul couldn’t help but tip his cap to an icon from a sport he now knows well, boxing.
    The 25-year-old revealed he believes Muhammad Ali had the biggest impact on sport as a whole.
    He added: “Muhammad Ali still the most impactful though.”
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    Ali’s storied career saw him fight 61 times – winning 56 of his fights.
    He thrived in the spotlight – showing off a gift for the gab and backed that up with some thrilling performances.
    His most notable bouts included highly publicised fights with Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier in the ‘Thrilla in Manila’, as well as ‘The Rumble in the Jungle’ against George Foreman.
    While outside the ring, Ali, who died aged 74 in 2016 after a long battle with Parkinson’s, was a black activist, spoke out against the Vietnam War, and his philanthropy was recognised the world over.
    Famously, Ali also helped negotiate the release of 15 hostages in Iraq in 1990.
    Messi, on the other hand, has lit up the football world since making his debut in 2004 with the Catalans.
    He has won more Ballon d’or titles than any other footballer, as well as four Champions League titles.
    Like Ali, Messi is also charitable – and has been a UNICEF ambassador since 2004.
    He also has the Leo Messi Foundation which aims to give children from poorer backgrounds equal opportunities.
    Argentina ran out winners on penalties after a 3-3 draw in one of the greatest matches ever played.
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    After Lionel Messi’s side raced into a 2-0 lead, Kylian Mbappe fired a rapid-fire brace to take the game to extra time.
    Messi and Mbappe would then net again in extra time to send the game a shootout where the Argentines won 4-2. More

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    Watch Jake Paul drop YouTuber in sparring… but former world champ claims tell-tale sign proves fighter took a dive

    JAKE PAUL dropped YouTuber Donald De La Haye with some brutal body shots – but ex-world champion Sergio Mora isn’t buying it. De La Haye – known as Deestroying – challenged social media star-turned-unbeaten boxer Paul to a scrap.
    Jake Paul dropped YouTuber Deestroying in sparringCredit: INSTAGRAM
    But it did not go well for the Costa Rican-American influencer, who was floored after just three punches.
    Although Mora, a former light-middleweight champ and now pundit, wasn’t convinced.
    He tweeted: “When a fighter is hurt to the body and goes down he instinctively covers up the spot where the punch landed!!!
    “The LAST thing a fighter does is open up his arms and expose his ribs!”
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    Paul’s trainer BJ Flores, an ex-cruiserweight contender, defended the sparring and said the American only threw punches to the body.
    Flores tweeted: “We love him! That’s why Jake didn’t punch for the first 1 minute 30 seconds and just let Deestroying do his thing.
    “Those were the first punches Jake threw.”
    After the session, Deestroying said: “His hands are so heavy and it doesn’t even look like he’s trying.
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    “They told me to go at my pace and he’s going to match my pace. That boy tagged me in the face, tagged me in the sternum, couldn’t breathe. A minute and 38 is all it took.”
    Paul said: “He’s fast, he’s got heart and b****s doing what a lot of people wouldn’t do which is get in the ring with me.
    “So respect to him and he’s athletic.. took some shots. If he really worked at it he could be good.”
    Paul, 25, is back in his adopted training base of Puerto Rico ahead of his next fight.
    He in October beat UFC legend Anderson Silva, 47, in the biggest win of his 6-0 career.
    And Paul is still in talks to reschedule his grudge match with Tommy Fury, 23, at the third time of asking.
    YouTuber Deestroying with Jake Paul during their sparring sessionCredit: INSTAGRAM More

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    KSI reveals why he is DELAYING Jake Paul grudge match after turning down offer to fight YouTube rival in middle of 2023

    KSI has admitted he is DELAYING a grudge match with Jake Paul after turning down a fight offer for the middle of 2023. The YouTuber, rapper and crossover boxing star admitted he was motivated to jump back into the ring to settle the score with Paul once and for all.
    KSI ahead of his next fight with Dillon DanisCredit: PA
    Jake Paul has long feuded KSICredit: AP
    But KSI has maintained he will RETIRE from boxing once he finally fights his American rival.
    So he is taking his time and trying to fit in as many bouts as possible before signing off with a blockbuster against Paul.
    KSI said: “I could fight Jake middle of next year if I wanted to, I was definitely offered to, but I said ‘nah’ because I’m enjoying this too much.
    “I don’t know if that’s kind of weird, I just didn’t expect to be so obsessed with being able to improve so much.
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    “I think I’m on a level where I’m able to keep going and keep going way further than I thought.
    “It’s crazy, I never thought I’d ever be able to do a 5k in under 20 minutes and now I’m breezing past that, now that’s nothing.
    “To know that I could just go further beyond, I think it’s just sick and I don’t really want to end it so quick because I know once I fight Jake it’s done.
    “I’ve no interest to do anything else boxing-wise, so I don’t know why I’d want to end it so quickly, I’m just enjoying the journey too much.”
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    KSI, 29, beat Paul’s brother Logan, 27, when the two turned professional for their 2019 rematch, having drawn a year before.
    The former opponents turned business partners, later launching hydration drink Prime.
    But there is no love lost for younger brother Jake, 25, who is out to even the family score.
    The American is 6-0 himself, most recently beating UFC legend Anderson Silva, 47, in the biggest win of his career.
    Meanwhile, KSI returns on January 14 against 2-0 MMA fighter Dillon Danis, 29, commonly known as Conor McGregor’s training partner.
    But he confirmed talks with Paul’s camp over a fight next year are actively taking place.
    KSI told SunSport: “We’re working on negotiations.
    “I don’t want to say the venue but we’re looking at certain venues and yeah, we are talking. 
    “We’re talking now and it’s going to take about a year for the fight to happen.
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    “It’s going to take a while to happen but we’re making sure it actually happens.”
    Jake Paul and KSI are in talks to fight in 2023Credit: GETTY More

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    Watch KSI awkwardly laugh as he faces off with NOBODY after Dillon Danis’ no-show at press conference

    KSI was left awkwardly laughing as he faced off with NOBODY after Dillon Danis no-showed their press conference. Danis was due to fly in from New York to help promote the January 14 DAZN pay-per-view bout.
    KSI was left awkwardly laughing as he faced off with nobody after Dillon Danis no-showedCredit: Twitter
    But after falling ill, the American elected to stay at home and instead focus on training ahead of what will be his boxing debut.
    After the press conference wrapped up, KSI posed for photos and pretended to square up to an imaginary opponent.
    The YouTube star let out a laugh when being faced with no opponent while using his imagination.
    Danis, 29, did not even attend the media commitment virtually and was slammed by KSI, 29.
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    He said: “In terms of Dillon Danis not being here, I think it’s quite disappointing, disrespectful to me and everyone here expecting him to show up.
    “It’s not something I haven’t seen before. I don’t know, maybe it’s my presence, maybe it’s just me in general, I’m so much of a scary guy.
    “But I can understand that — I’m very disciplined, very focused, and if you look at my resume, I don’t lose too many times.
    “I think for Dillon, that’s probably seeping in. Yeah, I know he’s undefeated himself, but I think looking me in the eyes — even when we saw each other in Texas — I could tell it was a facade.
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    “He had to pretend that he’s bigger and stronger than he actually is, and it kind of shows not being here how little he really is, how small his mindset really is.
    “He says I’m not a real fighter but I’m here. I’m always ready.
    “And, as someone he says he is a real fighter, he has not made the plane trip to see me, and has not even made the Zoom call to see me, he’s terrified.
    “He’s petrified of me. It’s disappointing.”
    Danis is a 2-0 MMA fighter most commonly known as Conor McGregor’s training partner, but he has not competed in three years.
    Meanwhile, KSI had two comeback fights on the SAME NIGHT in August, beating rapper Swarmz, 26, and boxer Luis Alcaraz Pineda, 23.
    And he returns for his sixth bout at Wembley Arena against Danis.
    KSI said: “I believe I’m all he thinks about and I’m in his nightmares — constantly terrorizing him, haunting him — and it’s making him slowly break down.
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    “It’s making break down, thinking, ‘Maybe I’m in over my head. When I see KSI in t he ring January 14, am I really to get in there with him?’
    “Is he the guy that’s going to beat me, I don’t think so.”
    Dillon Danis pictured in training with Conor McGregorCredit: Social Media
    KSI ahead of his fight with Dillon DanisCredit: Getty More

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    KSI confirms talks are officially underway for massive Jake Paul fight with venues being eyed for YouTube grudge match

    KSI has confirmed talks to fight Jake Paul are officially underway. The pair of bitter YouTube rivals have feuded ever since both deciding to step foot in the ring.
    KSI has confirmed talks to fight Jake Paul are officially underwayCredit: Getty
    Jake Paul and KSI have long feuded each otherCredit: Rex
    But KSI revealed opposing camps are directly in discussions for a massive grudge match next year with venues currently being eyed.
    He told SunSport: “We’re working on negotiations.
    “I don’t want to say the venue but we’re looking at certain venues and yeah, we are talking. 
    “We’re talking now and it’s going to take about a year for the fight to happen.
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    “It’s going to take a while to happen but we’re making sure it actually happens.”
    KSI, 29, beat Paul’s brother Logan, 27, when the two turned professional for their 2019 rematch, having drawn a year before.
    The former opponents turned business partners after later launching hydration drink Prime.
    But there is no love lost for younger brother Jake, 25, who is out to settle the family score.
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    The American is 6-0 himself, most recently beating UFC legend Anderson Silva, 47, in the biggest win of his career.
    Paul has voiced lofty ambitions of winning boxing world titles and even beating Mexican legend Canelo Alvarez, 32.
    But for KSI, his sole aim is to take down his arch nemesis and claimed he will RETIRE once doing so.
    He said: “For me my main goal is Jake Paul and I don’t want to fight Jake Paul instantly because I know once I fight him and beat him then it’s done. 
    “I wouldn’t want to fight anymore because I wouldn’t have any more goals in boxing, I would have achieved what I strived for. ”
    The sworn enemies are primed to put their unbeaten records and reputations on the line in 2023 if they avoid losing in the interim.
    But KSI admitted he cannot bring himself to support Paul winning, even if it means missing out on the chance to break his streak.
    He said: “For me if Jake loses, I’ll fight the person that beats Jake. And then I’d leave it at that. 
    “That’s where I’m at. If Anderson Silva beat Jake, I’d be like, ‘OK, let me fight Anderson Silva.’ 
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    “I think that’s the mindset. I just despise Jake so much that I could just never be in his corner.
    “If Jake does carry on winning, I guess you can say it just hypes up our fight in the end.” 
    Jake Paul and KSI are in talks to fight in 2023Credit: GETTY More