Jake Paul is already one of the most talked-about boxers in the world, even with only two pro fights. The polarizing YouTube and social media star is coming off a second-round knockout Saturday of Nate Robinson, the former NBA player, on the very successful Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. undercard.
Now? Paul plans on taking himself and his tens of millions of followers down a boxing path that leads to one person: Conor McGregor.
Paul told ESPN in a video interview Thursday that he wants to get a few more boxing wins under his belt before challenging McGregor in the squared circle.
“I am dedicating my life to beating Conor McGregor,” Paul said. “Financially, it already makes sense. Financially, I’m already one of the biggest prizefighters and there’s only a couple more bosses to check off and to beat and to conquer.”
McGregor, a former UFC two-division champion, remains one of the best lightweights in the promotion and is the biggest star in the history of MMA. He has competed once in boxing as a pro: against Floyd Mayweather in August 2017, which ended up being one of the most financially lucrative combat sports events of all time.
Paul said he believes a fight with McGregor in the future is “very realistic.”
“I want to fight a couple more people, I think, first,” Paul said. “We’re figuring that out. I want to prove to the world that, ‘Yo, I’m gonna knock out all these fighters.’ Conor McGregor can maybe be the final boss. If we were playing a video game, he could be the final boss. And then I’ll probably retire after I beat McGregor.”
In the meantime, Paul said his plan is to convince UFC president Dana White to let some of White’s MMA athletes compete against him in boxing. Paul has already called out the likes of UFC stars McGregor, Jorge Masvidal and Ben Askren, as well as Bellator’s Dillon Danis, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion.
“I want to bring MMA fighters into the boxing ring and embarrass them,” Paul said.
He noted that he’s been training in boxing for three years and taking it very seriously the last two. Even though he has several other income streams, Paul said boxing “invigorates” him like nothing else. He said he is committed to it now and moving forward. And he has some lofty aspirations.
“When I got the opportunity to get back in involved with sports, I fell in love with it,” Paul said. “Now I can take this as far as I want. Deontay Wilder started boxing at the age of 21 and became the heavyweight champion of the world. I started boxing at the age of 20. So, why can’t I be the champion of the world? I already have the platform.
“So for me, I truly believe that I will become the biggest prizefighter in the world and the highest-paid prizefighter in the world. And that is my goal — and I won’t stop for anybody.”