Eddie Hearn would love to see Jake Paul fight Conor McGregor in the boxing ring but has conceded it is unlikely to happen.
Paul has been angling for a fight with McGregor since his career in the boxing ring began, after the Irishman previously stepped into the ring with Floyd Mayweather. The YouTube star has now won his five professional fights and has finally received response from McGregor after being persistent in attempting to entice the UFC star into a rivalry.
Hearn believes a boxing fight between the pair would be an even affair, but doesn't anticipate UFC president Dana White will come to the negotiating table with Paul. “I still like Conor McGregor against Jake Paul, but I mean, Conor is looking big these days," Hearn said on the MMA Hour. "I don’t want to disrespect Conor because I really like him, but it’s the size that’s the problem.
"You know? Jake can fight, he’s explosive, can punch a little bit. But a lot of people don’t know, Conor was a decent amateur fighter, he does have good boxing fundamentals, much better than most mixed martial artists. Nakisa [Bidarian] mentioned it to me, he said, what about Taylor/Serrano and Conor McGregor against Jake Paul? Same night. I’d like to see it. I just can’t see Conor and ultimately Dana, really, Dana is not gonna do a deal with Jake Paul.”
Paul has confirmed his return to the ring in his sixth professional bout on August 13 with Tommy Fury and Anderson Silva in the running to face the 25-year-old. He has recently been focused on promoting the historic undisputed female title clash with Hearn in New York.
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McGregor made his latest mocking move to McGregor on social media accusing him of wearing "Jimmy Saville glasses", which led to a furious reaction from Paul. He hit back at the Irishman and accused him of ducking a fight. "It is what it is," Paul told media members in New York. "Of course Conor's watching to support Katie.
"We had a little bit of banter back-and-forth, but of course he always has something to say but he doesn't really have a place to talk. He hasn't won a fight in five years, Dana [White, UFC president] owns him and I'm the one that got Katie Taylor a big payday and that's his hero. Conor McGregor's not tall enough to ride a rollercoaster and I feel bad for him because he's ducking me. But we'll get that settled one day."
Paul has even offered to fight McGregor in the UFC when contacting UFC kingpin White on social media. However White later refused to rule out an appearance claiming he doesn't hate Paul. White told the Impaulsive podcast : "Probably not. I'm never closed off to anything. I used to say that about things but I don't anymore. I don't hate the kid. He came out and said, 'Now you love me'... well I never said that but I don't hate him."
