Jake
Paul has big dreams when it comes to his boxing career, and
Tyron
Woodley is just the beginning.
“[Woodley is my] toughest [opponent] by far and that’s exactly what
I want,” Paul said at a press conference on Tuesday to promote his
boxing match against the former UFC champion. “I want to continue
to increase my opponent’s skill level. I want to challenge myself.
This is a legitimate knockout artist. He was boxing while I was on
Disney Channel. He’s been boxing probably four or five times as
long as me.”
Thus far, Paul is 3-0 in the Sweet Science with his most notable
victory coming in April, when he scored a first-round knockout of
former Bellator and One Championship title holder Ben Askren.
Askren was a decorated wrestler but a below average striker at best
— even by MMA standards. Woodley, on the basis of KO wins over the
likes of Robbie
Lawler, Dong Hyun
Kim, Josh
Koscheck and Jay Hieron,
among others, represents a step up in that regard.
Eventually, Paul wants to take on boxing’s best and brightest, and
he sees Woodley as an important experience in that journey — even
if he refused to say his opponent’s first name properly at
Tuesday’s presser.
“I love it. I haven’t been hit in three fights. That’s a fact. I
haven’t been hit in the face. As a professional boxer that’s sort
of unheard of,” Paul said “I just want to add some experience. I
want to go after Canelo [Alvarez] in three years. I want to be a
world champion.
“If I’m just fighting guys who can’t hit me, how am I gonna get
better in the ring? ‘Tyrone’s’ a perfect person to maybe get me to
the third round for the first time ever.”
Paul also addressed his desire to face Conor
McGregor, who remains the UFC’s biggest draw despite suffering
a broken leg in a loss to Dustin
Poirier at UFC 264 this past Saturday. After that bout, Paul
offered McGregor $23 for a hypothetical matchup. More seriously,
Paul believes that a fight with the Irish star is closer to
becoming a reality than ever before.
“I think it could happen. I think the funny thing about this
journey is I’ve predicted everything that has happened thus far,”
Paul said. “Eighteen months ago when I said I want to fight Conor,
people laughed at me. Now I’m laughing at Conor with a broken ankle
sitting there in the Octagon, and he needs Jake Paul< more than
I need him.
“My offer to Conor is $23. If we ever fought, I would knock those
fake-ass teeth right out of his f—-ing mouth. Dustin Poirier
defeated this man. Dustin Poirier is an amazing fighter, don’t get
me wrong. I actually became a fan of his over the weekend. But he’s
5-9, 155 pounds. I’m 6-1, 200. And so Conor McGregor would not
stand a chance.”