Jake Paul has challenged Conor McGregor to fight in a boxing ring in Ireland after revealing he just wants to ‘fight him and smack him in the head.’
The YouTuber has cultivated a rivalry with the Crumlin brawler in recent months after identifying him as the man he wants to fight most in the squared circle.
American Paul, 25, has a 5-0 record in professional boxing after beating the 39-year-old former UFC fighter Tyron Woodley for the second time in December.
On the undercard that day was Amanda Serrano, the Puerto Rican fighter who will vie for Katie Taylor’s undisputed world title at Madison Square Garden on April 30.
Paul is Serrano's manager and has been key to making what is generally considered the biggest fight ever between two women - and is set to earn both women seven figures before pay-per-view earnings are even factored in.
Taylor joked at the weekend that her friend McGregor hasn't been in touch to ask her to 'chin' the social media personality.
Speaking at an event to promote that fight, which is reported to be the fastest-selling pre-sale in the iconic venue’s history, Paul called out McGregor.
He said that part of the reason he got into combat sport to begin with was for a chance to fight the Notorious.
"I don't give a s*** about Conor," the social media star told reporters, before speaking at length about the former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion.
"I just want to fight him and smack him in the head - in that sense I hope that he can win some fights so that we can actually fight. I will fight him in a boxing ring in Ireland.
“This is partially how the journey started. I made up my mind that I was going to get a fight with McGregor and win it and that is what motivated me to jump into this boxing career.”
Paul then waded into the debate over McGregor’s pledge to quit drinking as he prepares to return to the ring after breaking his leg during his last bout against Dustin Poirier in July.
McGregor, 33, who owns the Black Forge pub in Drimnagh, also has his own range of Proper 12 whiskey, but he has vowed not to touch a drop as he gets back into fighting shape.
"The guy is a grown-a** man, he needs to figure out his life; it seems to be falling apart from what I can tell,” said Paul.
Paul, who describes himself as a ‘disruptor’ in the vein of Uber or Netflix, has signalled his intention to change the fight game, to "change the way fights are made."
“I am very passionate about boxing. It consumes my life. YouTube was something I liked but I didn’t necessarily love it. But to me boxing is everything.
“Boxing is way more lawless [than YouTube] and that’s the reason I love it. There is way more room to innovative right now and to disrupt.
“The internet culture and social media is sort of stagnant and dying as a matter of fact. I want to change the way fights are made.
“I want to fight all over the world. I want to fight on a cruise ship; I want to fight on the top of skyscrapers I want to fight anywhere in the world where you can put a boxing ring.”
Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn, Taylor’s co-promoter, complimented Paul on his role in promoting the Serrano fight but stressed women’s boxing is a different business to men’s.
He said: "Female boxing is a bit different to men's boxing. There's a lot more ego in men's boxing, genuinely with the women they want legacy, they want to fight the best.
"They want these historic moments. I'm not saying they would have done it for less, but money matters less I believe to the female fighters.
"But it didn't matter in this case because they've both done extremely well and Jake's done a great job."
