Jake Paul insists he has no idea who Andrew Tate is after being called out for a boxing fight by the controversial entrepreneur and former kickboxing champion.
Tate, who was a reality TV star and kickboxing champion before reaching massive fame on social media over the past year, has said that he would be willing to pay $3million (£2.5m) to make a fight with Paul happen. He has fought some of the best kickboxers in the world and even won a couple of fights in professional and amateur MMA before retiring from combat sports due to eye issues.
Tate came back for a bout in 2020 and has said he believes he would be able to beat Paul, despite insisting that the YouTuber-turned-boxer he is much tougher than most fighters give him credit for. The kickboxer, who goes by the nickname 'Cobra Tate', is a controversial figure for his views on women and society but has a massive following with Paul's demographic.
However, when asked during a scrum at Tuesday's press conference for his August 6 fight with Hasim Rahman Jr, Paul seemed to have no clue who Tate was. He was asked if he considered the British-American fighter as a replacement when Tommy Fury pulled out of their scheduled bout and replied: "I don't know who that is."
Paul's manager, Nakisa Bidarian, could also be heard directing reporters to move on to the next question during the scrum, intending to keep the direction of discussion around Rahman Jr. Paul was said to have chosen between three opponents for August 6 after Fury pulled out due to travel issues, but it's clear Tate was not on the list.
"I don't dislike him, I understand him. But I want to make something clear: I would still kick the living f*** out of Jake Paul," Tate told The Fellas podcast earlier this year.
"I'm not some washed-up UFC fighter and I'm not smaller than him, I would beat the living s*** out of him and if he wants to fight I'll fight him any day of the f****ng week. He's very smart with his 'I'm just a YouTuber angle'.
"You're a full-grown man with the best coaches in the world who has dedicated years to learning how to box. The guy's not a jack*** and the fact he puts this spin on it is very smart."
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The multi-millionaire's net worth is believed to be in the region of £100m after a series of business ventures with his brother, Tristan, who goes by the nickname 'Talisman'. The pair have both fought at a high level but it appears that Andrew was more serious about the sport.
Weighing around 205lb and standing at 6'3", Tate would be a fascinating opponent for Paul, who until he fights Rahman Jr will only have faced smaller opposition. And he is confident that he would win if the pair were to fight.
"I offered him $3m at the time," he said of Paul. "I don't think it's about money for him I think it's about credibility and fame. Him fighting me is a massive risk for him, he knows that.
"I'd love to kick the f*** out of the guy because I love to fight, that's the difference between me and everyone else he's fought. I'm not some desperate guy at the end of his career who needs the money. I would dedicate my life [to training], treat him like a professional and I would destroy him like I've destroyed all of the professionals I have ever fought."
