YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul has received one of his first major callouts of 2023, with bodybuilder and influencer 'Big Boy' pushing for a fight.
The former Disney star is 6-0 as a professional boxer, and appears to have left the influencer boxing scene behind after wins over MMA legends such as Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley and Anderson Silva. But he is still frequently called out by fighters who compete on the celebrity circuit, with 'Big Boy' set to make his debut against Tito Ortiz later this year.
The 330lb bodybuilder, whose real name is Jake Johns, has been pushing for a bout with former UFC light-heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz, whose boxing debut saw him viciously knocked out within a round by Silva in 2021. And should he manage to beat Ortiz, he wants to take on his namesake Paul in his sophomore outing.
"He [Ortiz] tried to call me out," the influencer told TMZ Sports. "He wants that payday with me, wants to throw hands, so I said, 'Let's run it'... That's the plan as long as he doesn't b**** out. [I could make] $500,000, it's got to be. That's huge I don't feel like I could beat him, I'm going to beat him.
"I respect all fighters, he's a world champion, I've looked up to him and I respect him but I think he's past his prime. I think I'm more explosive, I'm stronger, I got more game than him, everything all in one. I think it's really my time and I'm going to retire his a*** for sure, guaranteed knockout, I'm going to just go ahead and say the first round. I don't know about the first 30 seconds but it's going to happen in that first round, I don't think he can take the heat. I'm going to run through him."
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With such confidence about his ability to beat a combat veteran in Ortiz, the star appears to be focused already on his second outing. Asked who he wanted to fight next, Big Boy responded: "I'll just go ahead and say a big name; Jake Paul. Why not? He's the one making the most noise in the influencer space, we could run it with Jake Paul next."
The issue with a fight between the pair, along with their monstrous skill and experience gap, would be the major weight difference between the pair. Big Boy would need to lose over 130lb to make it to cruiserweight, where Paul has competed throughout the early part of his career.
It also seems that Paul is more interested in pursuing a legitimate boxer next, having already make quick work of celebrities such as YouTuber AnEsonGib and basketball star Nate Robinson. The only influencer he seems keen to fight is his long-time rival KSI, who is about to have his third fight since August and sixth ever against Dillon Danis next week in London.
