Jake Paul has been incredibly vocal about his wishes to box Conor McGregor for several years, with the 'Notorious' previously playing down any chances of a fight coming to fruition - but his approach has now changed
Conor McGregor has shifted how he interacts with Jake Paul, indicating that a boxing bout between the two could be on the cards after all.
'Problem Child' Paul has always been incredibly vocal about his wishes to fight UFC star McGregor in the squared circle, consistently calling on the 'Notorious' one with lucrative fight offers as he has built a respectable 11-1 pro boxing record.
Paul's most recent call-out of the Irishman came in the wake of his unanimous decision victory over Mike Tyson in November, telling a post-fight press conference: "And it's funny to say Conor McGregor is scared of Jake Paul and will never box him, but it's the f---ing truth.
"And look at him go toe-to-toe with Nate Diaz, who was easy work for me. It was like a Monday sparring session to beat Nate Diaz's a--. He doesn't ever want this smoke with me, it will never happen." McGregor initially dismissed Paul's fight offers in the earlier days of his career, downplaying the significance that the content creator had on the sport of boxing.
However, McGregor's attitude started to shift as Paul went on to make a name for himself, beating a wealth of former UFC stars like Ben Askren, Anderson Silva, Nate Diaz, Tyron Woodley and Mike Perry. Speaking to the media a few years back, McGregor explained: "I couldn't care about them two dingbats," taking aim at both Jake and his older brother, Logan.
When asked if he would ever see himself fighting either of them, McGregor added: "I don't see so, but you know, never say never. If they're going to keep competing and whatnot, who f---ing knows? But dingbats." Meanwhile, McGregor has also been incredibly fiery online with regards to his distaste for Paul.
Taking to X after the YouTuber's TKO win over Perry in July, McGregor wrote: "Jake Paul is the biggest p---bag I have ever seen in my life. 40-pound weight difference, juiced out of his head, and still s----ing himself in there. Nakisa you should take him to Vegas oh that's right you could never, the athletic commission testing, real testing, real fighting.
"B---- a--es. You could never. And then calling out 60-year-old Mike Tyson fresh off an in-flight medical emergency? I swear to god, a fat can of b---- p---. Most valuable p---bag." But McGregor has recently announced that he is currently in talks for a fight with Logan, taking to X to clear up any rumors of him fighting UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria in the near future.
He explained: "The rumours of a bout with Topuria are false. I am in preliminary agreements with the Ambani family to face Logan Paul in a boxing exhibition in India. I have agreed. I will then seek my return to the Octagon." However, it is now reported that the Irishman could instead be eyeing a lucrative bout with Jake after all.
Jake initially explained that he had refused to engage in negotiation with McGregor or his team without the UFC and Dana White's involvement, writing on X earlier in December: "Now it all makes sense why Conor McGregor and his management team have been desperately trying to get MVP to negotiate for a fight between us.
"As we told them privately and I'm now saying it publicly... the only way we're willing to explore me vs Conor in a pro boxing / MMA fight is if Dana White / UFC are at the table directly or make it clear they are OK with discussions. Conor is washed. Needs the Pauls. Logan by however he wants."
And Jake followed that post up just two days later by writing: "Big announcement in January. Boxing," as fans filled the comments section with memes of him in the ring with Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Mother Theresa and Mahatma Gandhi, alluding to Jake fighting far older stars who are arguably past their prime.
While McGregor holds a professional MMA record of 22-6, he hasn't fought since his TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021 after suffering a broken leg on the night. The 36-year-old was set to return to the Octagon in June to face long-time rival Michael Chandler at UFC 303 until he pulled out on short notice due to a broken toe.
Known for his incredible boxing from southpaw, McGregor has only had one professional boxing bout; a 2017 showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr, which he lost via a highly-contested tenth-round TKO. Could we see McGregor return to the ring in 2025 to face either Jake or Logan Paul? Only time will tell.
