Jake Paul expects long-term rival Conor McGregor to reject a boxing fight if he beats Anderson Silva.
YouTube star Paul has won all of his five fights as a professional and will look to add his sixth when he takes on UFC legend Silva next weekend in Phoenix. During his time in the sport, Paul has made it clear his main target is former two-weight world champion McGregor.
The Irishman is out of action after breaking his leg last July but has teased a return to the boxing ring in the future, having made an appearance in the squared circle in a defeat by Floyd Mayweather in 2017. However Paul believes McGregor will not see the outing as one he can win and so will look to pursue other options.
"I don't unfortunately," Paul responded during his ' BS with Jake Paul' show when asked if he thinks a fight with McGregor will happen. "Just because he will see what I do to do Anderson Silva and he will say 'why will I try to make this kid $100 million and lose to him so he can make his name off of me.' Who knows what that guy is doing? His career is coming to an end.
"Me beating him would be legendary, a lot of boxers don't do this, that is why Canelo is not fighting Benavidez. Why would he fight Benavidez who is relatively unknown and if he beats him overnight he becomes a superstar?. I'm saying that he will make my name so much bigger if I beat him. He is A-side for sure and I would make less money in the fight but that's speaking right now who knows what happens in the future."
Paul has aimed frequent jibes at McGregor on social media in a bid to entice him into a feud, which failed for several months despite his bid to open talks over a fight. However in March this year, McGregor responded to the content creator by labelling him a "jack***" after criticising his boxing technique during training footage.
Who would win if the pair fought in the boxing ring - Conor McGregor or Jake Paul? Let us know in the comments section below
In July, Paul claimed a fight between the pair would be hugely lucrative and a pay-per-view success. "I think for me fighting a couple more times, continuing to knock some people out," Paul said on The MMA Hour. "Those things need to happen again, so I think those two things need to happen then at some point it's got to happen, why not.
"He has to get active again, who knows when that's going to happen. He's a businessman, I'm a businessman. That's $75 to $100million for both of us." McGregor quickly hit back appearing to downplay talks of a clash, writing on Twitter : "You’ve [had] two fights and done 70k buys. You are a flop, kid. A nobody."
