Eddie Hearn has reiterated his desire for Jake Paul to take a step up in competition by facing Team GB Olympian Cheavon Clarke.
The former amateur standout is just 2-0 as a professional, and as recently as April Paul agreed to face him during a heated row with the Matchroom Boxing boss. And with Tommy Fury now seemingly out of the scheduled bout between himself and Paul, the American is on the lookout for a replacement opponent.
Clarke has knocked out both of his opponents since switching to the pro ranks after the Tokyo games, and at less than 10-0 falls under Paul's criteria for a fair challenge. However, he would be a big step up in class from the opponents the YouTube star has been facing since lacing up the gloves in 2018.
Paul has faced two YouTubers, a basketball star and two MMA champions, but has yet to face anybody who had boxed professionally when they signed to face him. Even Fury, the brother of world heavyweight champion Tyson and 8-0 as a professional with four stoppages, would be considered a much lower level.
"Yo Eddie Hearn my passport is ready," Clarke tweeted, along with an American flag emoji and the hashtag "#NoExcuses". The promoter responded by tagging Paul and saying "2-0 and ready!"
The prospective fight between Paul and Clarke was first brought up when the YouTuber was co-promoting Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano with Hearn in New York. When the pair got into a row over Paul's boxing credentials, he challenged Hearn to find him an opponent under 10-0 from his Matchroom Boxing roster.
"Anybody, any weight under 10-0?" Hearn asked at the time. "I've got about 400 of them. Cheavon Clarke is 1-0, he boxed in the Olympics, didn't medal, he's just had one professional fight. He's a cruiserweight, you can have him. I'll be careful with the price, I've got fighters for you. Any time, I hope you do [move up the ranks]."
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Paul seemingly agreed, responding: "Anyone, any weight, under ten fights I will beat anybody on your roster. No problem, give me your best 'real boxer'. Let's do it,
"I already said, I'm down. We're betting a million dollars [on Taylor vs Serrano] and I'm taking on anyone on your roster with under ten fights. That's right now, too. Give me a couple of years, bro, I'm coming for your boy Canelo [Alvarez]. That's one of the biggest fights in boxing that can be made."
Paul and Fury have now seemingly had two fight dates cancelled due to issues on the Brit's end, after their December fight was pulled over a rib injury. Now, travel issues have blocked the Love Island star from attending a launch press conference, with Paul recently saying he was moving on from the bout.
