Jake Paul’s long-awaited bout with former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson has come and gone. The YouTuber turned boxer has improved his professional record to 11-1, but whether he can continue to successfully promote big fights remains to be seen after the underwhelming quality of his latest battle. Paul needs another big name to attach himself to, but he’ll be hard-pressed to find a name bigger than Tyson’s in combat sports. Who could Paul fight next? A couple people come to mind.
Paul has been clamoring to fight Mexican boxing star Canelo Alvarez for years now. The 34-year-old holds four major titles and could help dispel the perception that Paul only boxes older, smaller, or inexperienced opponents. You could argue that Alvarez isn’t at his peak, but he’s clearly a legitimate champion across multiple weight classes who competes at a high level. Alvarez has repeatedly said that he has no interest in sharing the ring with Paul, so this fight seems like a reach.
Paul has also had his fair share of exchanges with Conor McGregor. He’s publicly toyed with the idea of taking on the world-renowned MMA fighter in the octagon without any weight classes. McGregor, 36, has hardly been an active fighter in recent years and lost his last two fights to Dustin Poirier in 2021. Fans could be drawn to see a fight where Paul can actually take some damage against an experienced and in-shape pro who can do more than punch, so this outcome seems more likely.
It seems like Paul wants to be taken seriously as a fighter at some point but he could pivot to the entertainer route as opposed to trying to take down the biggest names in boxing and MMA. Paul’s fellow influencer and friend KSI or his brother Logan could enter the fray, but there’s also a large pool of athletes who’ve been brought up in conversations about Jake’s next challenge. Former basketball stars Metta World Peace and Dwight Howard are among the NBA names that have surged to the forefront.
There’s no clear choice for Paul’s next opponent but all signs point to him targeting an opponent who can actually compete and give him a run for his money. Topping the promotion and viewership of his last fight would be an impressive feat. Agreeing to exchange fists with someone who’s skill and physical condition make Paul the clear underdog will be key to accomplishing that.
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