Jake Paul insists he is serious about fighting Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez as he reiterated his belief he can become a boxing world champion.
The YouTuber-turned pro boxer overcame the toughest test of his career to date on Saturday night, as he dropped MMA legend Anderson Silva in the final round of their fight to secure an unanimous decision victory.
Afterwards attention immediately turned to who Paul would take on next and among others, he once again called out one of boxing’s pound-for-pound stars, Canelo.
When asked about a potential fight with fellow YouTuber KSI, Paul replied: “He won’t fight me, especially after this fight… I’m trying to become a world champion, I don’t know what the f**k that kid’s doing.”
Paul then set his sights on Canelo with the 25-year-old saying: “Canelo, you’re getting old.
“You looked weird against [Gennady Golovkin], I still want that fight as well.
“I said it 18 months ago and I was sitting in a room just like this and everyone was like, ‘haha, f****** idiot’.
“And now 18 months later, here we are and when I say that, maybe people are taking it a little bit more seriously now and I still mean it and I still want that fight.”
Canelo may not appear as invincible as he used to after his upset loss to Dmitry Bivol earlier this ear, but he is still one of best boxers on the planet and represents a huge step up in level from the 47-year-old Silva.
With that being said, in the past Canelo has not completely dismissed the chances of one day squaring off against Paul in the ring.
Ahead of his clash with Bivol in May, Canelo was asked about a fight with Paul, who is seven years his junior, and said, “The thing I’m thinking about is – why are you guys asking me especially that fight?
“Jake Paul, please guys. Maybe in two years like he says, maybe in two years we can talk.”
When asked whether Paul was crazy for calling for a fight with him, Canelo said, “No, he’s not crazy. That is not crazy, it’s fine dreaming of something.
“You need to put goals in your mind. It’s okay.”