Jake Paul could fight Tommy Fury or Nate Diaz next following his latest victory over Anderson Silva.
The YouTube star took to the ring in his sixth professional fight at the Desert Diamond Arena when he faced arguably the biggest challenge of his career against UFC legend Anderson Silva. Paul stepped up to the plate and delivered another spirited performance to knock down his opponent in the final round and secure unanimous decision victory after hearing the final bell.
A whole host of opponents are expected to now state their claim to a shot at Paul including UFC veteran Diaz who was in attendance at the fight week events for the content creator's latest outing. Meanwhile Paul could reschedule his bout with Fury for a third time with talks having already taken place over a February meeting.
We take a look at potential opponents that Paul could face after his latest win...
1. Nate Diaz
Diaz currently seems one of the most likely options for Paul given his presence at the YouTube star's latest victory over Silva. The UFC veteran ended up missing the main event after making an attempt to get to his rival's locker room which saw him escorted off the premises.
The Stockton native is set to depart the UFC after winning the final fight of his contract with the promotion, which would now finally open the door for negotiations to begin. Paul has made it very clear of his intentions to meet Diaz and included the American in his post fight call-out alongside Canelo Alvarez last night.
Alongside his UFC exploit to end his deal, Diaz created his own boxing promotion and has frequently spoken of his plans to conquer the sport by entertaining a crossover bout. He even suggested directly that he would be interested in the fight with Paul despite posting a cryptic tweet that appeared to pour cold water on the fight earlier this week.
2. Tommy Fury
Another likely option for Paul could be long-term rival Fury who he has been scheduled to meet on two separate occasions but a fight has yet to materialise. Paul signed to face his rival last December but the Briton was forced to withdraw with a broken rib, before a rescheduled meeting this August was also shelved with Fury unable to travel to the US.
The pair have since shared a FaceTime call and even held talks between their two teams over another try at making the showdown, with Paul even claiming that an agreement is place for the fight next February. Fury wished his rival good luck for his recent win against Silva, and once again stated that a fight will be available if it is held in the UK.
Paul stated this fight week that he is reluctant to hand his foe another chance, but could be willing to alter his stance if the Briton defeats Paul Bamba next month.
3. Dillon Danis
Paul has been long-term rivals with Danis ever since his infamous drive-by water attack in 2021, but the pair have yet to arrange a long-awaited fight. The pair held extensive negotiations over a potential match-up in the squared circle, but Danis was unable to compete after carrying a pre-existing injury from his exploits in MMA.
Danis has continued to be active on social media in calling out Paul and issued a dismissive response to his rival's latest win over Silva. Paul has previously suggested he would not entertain another challenge from Danis since the collapse of their previous negotiations, and it could be viewed as a backwards step given Danis' limited experience in boxing.
Who would you like to see Jake Paul fight next? Let us know in the comments section below
4. KSI
As arguably Paul's biggest rival it would be expected that KSI would be heavily in the running to challenge Paul in his next fight. An event between the pair would have huge commercial value and has been on the cards for several years ever since their joint rise in the world of YouTube boxing
KSI made his return to the ring with two fights in one night and is expected to make his latest exploit in January against an opponent that isn't Paul. The pair had already agreed to a winner-takes-all clash at Wembley Stadium in 2023, but Paul is uncertain that KSI will accept a fight having currently been on a different schedule.
It is uncertain whether Paul will see this as a leap back into the YouTube boxing world which will not meet calls for him to face a natural 'boxer'. However any fight with KSI will not take place until late next year at the earliest given the pair's fighting schedules.
5. Conor McGregor
Paul has made it clear that it is his long-term ambition to fight UFC superstar McGregor in the boxing ring. The Irishman is currently out of action but is expected to return to the octagon next year providing his comeback continues to go as planned.
Paul has frequently aimed call-outs and jibes on social media at McGregor in which he finally drew out responses this year which could be the biggest sign yet that McGregor may be open to the contest. Paul also showed off a leaner physique during his recent contest with Silva, which could be the removal of a big hurdle to any lucrative meeting.
A fight between the pair would likely again provide huge value commercially but will likely not take place until the distant future, despite McGregor's hints he could return to the boxing ring imminently.
