Jake Paul suffered his first loss as a professional boxer last month when he lost a split decision to Tommy Fury in Saudi Arabia. But instead of bursting the bubble over a genre-shifting experiment, interest in the YouTuber-turned-prize-fighter’s next step is generating even more interest.
There was a clause in the contract that if Fury won, Paul could demand an immediate rematch. Both Paul and Fury stated after the fight that they were in favor of holding the next rematch. Why not? Paul has pride and he wants to win this victory. The fight was a big success and Fury has no other blockbuster opponent waiting in the wings other than Paul.
But this is boxing. The old adage about best plans applies even more to sweet science. Fights that seem easy often fail. Paul vs. Fury was booked twice and failed both times before it actually happened.
There are other intriguing potential fights for Paul. From a vicious matchup with fellow YouTube phenomenon KSI to a high-profile potential clash with MMA bad boy Nate Diaz and an even bigger and more interesting matchup: against his own brother Logan Paul.
So while Paul’s most likely next fight is Fury vs. Paul 2, it makes sense to see what other options he might have. Here are five potential opponents and how these fights can be rocked:
Youtuber and rapper KSI
If Paul wants to rebuild himself with a win, KSI is probably the best option for him. KSI has improved since he and Jake’s older brother Logan started boxing five years ago. KSI trained in the London Shootfighters with Bellator MMA star Michael “Venom” Page and displayed an impressive Page-like technical offense. However, competition must be taken into account. People criticized Paul for not fighting boxers; KSI didn’t fight professional fighters, only social media celebrities and the like. Paul’s experience against former UFC champions and Fury should give him an edge.
Former UFC star Nate Diaz
While this fight doesn’t seem as likely as even a few months ago, the fight remains intriguing. Diaz probably wouldn’t have been thrilled to fight Paul after the loss. And if that happened, Paul would probably have to lose more weight than he was. After all, Diaz fought at 155 for most of his MMA career and most recently at 170. Paul fought at 190 and most recently at 183.6 against Fury.
We never saw Diaz in a direct boxing match, but Hall of Famer Andre Ward, who trained with Diaz, spoke highly of him. And almost certainly cardio will be on the side of Diaz. No one wants to see an incredibly tough Diaz in the late rounds, no matter what martial arts you compete in. This guy does triathlon for fun during his training camp.
Five division champion and future Hall of Famer Floyd Mayweather
Mayweather has been active in exhibition boxing fights lately, including one against Logan Paul in 2020. But interest in those fights seems to be waning, as evidenced by the disappointing turnout in England for Mayweather’s fight last month with the former Bellator and reality TV fighter. star Aaron Chalmers. However, Mayweather is still the biggest name in boxing, even if he hasn’t fought at a professional level since 2017 when he defeated Conor McGregor. Paul insisted that at this stage he would not perform, but it is difficult for Mayweather to refuse. Mayweather’s fight with Paul’s brother was huge. And there is a built-in history.
Then, of course, this week there was an altercation between Paul, Mayweather and their respective teams in Miami. Paul said he was ambushed and there were “35 guys” with Mayweather. Maybe Mayweather was just trying to get Paul back for stealing his hat. In any case, it sounds like a ready-made story for a fight.
Former UFC welterweight contender Mike Perry
Perry may be a bit busy at Bare Knuckle FC right now, where his next opponent will be recently signed former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold. But Perry was a backup to take on Paul if Fury refused again. It didn’t happen, but Perry remains a future chance for Problem Child and it won’t be an easy fight. What Perry may lack in purely technical ability, he makes up for in athleticism, aggression, and strength. He’s not such a fun guy. Paul will probably outbox him skill by skill. But Perry could make this a spectacular fight while it lasts.
YouTube sensation, social media celebrity and WWE wrestler Logan Paul
It’s a long way to go and it probably won’t happen…next time. Logan crushed him in WWE and will face Seth Rollins in a WrestleMania match next month. But brother against brother is not entirely out of the question.
Both of them spoke about it publicly. While their parents would probably hate it, Paul vs. Paul would make a huge business. The two siblings are inherently brilliant marketers. And that would be a marketing dream. The likelihood that this will happen in the near future is small. But don’t be surprised if one day it becomes a serious opportunity.
Source: www.espn.com
