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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Ben Davies

Jake Paul plunges Conor McGregor fight into fresh doubt with "scared" jibe

Jake Paul has insisted Conor McGregor is "scared" to fight him and doubts he will touch gloves with the UFC star.

The YouTube star is set to meet bitter rival Tommy Fury in his seventh professional boxing match this weekend as he eyes the biggest scalp of his career in Saudi Arabia. Paul has previously fought a whole host of UFC stars who have made the switch to the squared circle including Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley.

And the 'Problem Child' is hoping that they are not the last to make the move despite now mixing it with fighters with a natural background in the sport. Paul has made a relentless campaign to share the ring with UFC superstar McGregor who has already previously laced up his gloves and fought Floyd Mayweather in 2017.

The Irishman has responded to some of his social media taunts but it remains unclear if he would be willing to step in the ring with Paul given their size discrepancy. And the influencer believes it is exactly that reason why he could miss out on a shot that he has clamoured for since joining the sport.

“I call out these fighters because I really want to fight them," Paul said on Piers Morgan's uncensored on Talk TV when discussing fights with big names such as McGregor. "When I first called these people out everyone thought I was crazy… They didn’t think that was actually possible for these fights to happen. In less than three years, I’ve taken on some of the biggest names in the sport. Some combat sports legends.

“To me I always saw the vision. I always saw the game plan. I always knew what I was capable of and I think at some points I was biting off more than I could chew with calling out these guys. When I called out Conor McGregor people thought I was crazy, and now I guarantee you he won’t ever box me because I could beat him and he knows that.

Jake Paul still wants to fight UFC star Conor McGregor (Getty Images)

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"If I could beat Anderson Silva, who was bigger, stronger, faster, better striker, than a smaller guy, Conor McGregor is not going to want to fight me. But my skill has quickly caught up to be able to actually go in there and actually beat some of these guys and I think it’s to a point now."

McGregor is likely to be focused on his UFC comeback prior to any move into the boxing ring, having announced he will face Michael Chandler as part of the promotion's series The Ultimate Fighter this year. He previously suggested he would be open to further mega-money exploits in the boxing ring but this will likely not happen until his UFC contract expires.

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