While it’s certainly nice to imagine Jake Paul will disappear magically back from whence he came by the end of 2021, all signs point to him being around for much longer. We’ll just have to learn to live in a combat sports world where “Problem Child” is a perpetual reality.
If you’d like to see what that world might look like, Paul is giving a little preview on social media heading into his Aug. 29, 2021, boxing bout against former UFC champion, Tyron Woodley, in Cleveland, Ohio.
The YouTube star posted up a 12-man “hit list” written out on a whiteboard. Already crossed out: his first three boxing opponents: An Eson Gib, Nate Robinson and Ben Askren. Future opponents: Tyron Woodley, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, Nate or Nick Diaz, Kamaru Usman, “Timmy” Fury (a.k.a. Tyson lil brother Tommy Fury), Conor McGregor, KSI, Gervonta Davis, and finally with question marks around it: Logan Paul.
Hit list. pic.twitter.com/o1MLN4QiG9
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) August 14, 2021
Next up for Paul (unless it’s an immediate rematch against Tyron Woodley) is most likely 6-0 boxer Tommy Fury. Showtime recently signed Tommy to a two-fight contract with the first going down against mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Anthony Taylor on the Paul-Woodley undercard. The second, if Fury manages to make a splash later this month, will come against Jake Paul in what will be Paul’s first fight against a “real” boxer.
Past that we have the usual pastiche of top boxing and MMA names: Paul has called out Conor McGregor multiple times, and has more recently been talking about the Diaz brothers a lot. Kamaru Usman is a new target and just another sign the dominant welterweight champ is starting to make some headway amongst the casuals.
Over on the boxing side, Paul lists Canelo Alvarez (which really seems like a bad idea given Alvarez is currently breaking the faces of his opponents) and then Floyd Mayweather’s protege Gervota Davis.
Any fight involving Paul continues to be a freak show fight, but the most freak show are a fight with British YouTuber KSI, who kicked off this whole Paul brother boxing invasion by fighting Logan Paul twice. Their first fight was ruled a draw, while the second saw KSI win a split decision. Then there’s Jake’s desire to box Logan, which seems like the culmination of this entire fluffing effort: build enough hype to have the two brothers show down, and then ride off with all the money.
Of course, if Jake manages to step into the ring with anyone on the tougher side of his list, serious injury could occur. I don’t know if I’ll go as far as wishing for that, but a reminder that boxing ain’t a sport to fool around in wouldn’t hurt anyone but the Pauls at this point.