Paul: McGregor bout is ‘a lot closer,’ could happen within 24 months

Jake Paul at a press conference to promote his fight with Ben Askren on April 17th | Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Jake Paul thinks a fight with Conor McGregor could happen in the next 24 months. Jake Paul thinks a …


Jake Paul at a press conference to promote his fight with Ben Askren on April 17th
Jake Paul at a press conference to promote his fight with Ben Askren on April 17th | Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Jake Paul thinks a fight with Conor McGregor could happen in the next 24 months.

Jake Paul thinks a fight against UFC star Conor McGregor could happen sooner rather than later.

Paul will step into the boxing ring for the third time as a professional this Saturday, facing former ONE FC champion and UFC welterweight Ben Askren live on Triller Fight Club.

The YouTube and Internet celebrity Paul campaigned for a fight with McGregor after he knocked out former NBA player Nate Robinson last November. Talking at the pre-fight press conference for his fight with Askren, Paul weighed in on a future fight with McGregor.

“I think we both are on a road to each other,” Paul said. “He wants another boxing fight. He wants to fight Manny Pacquiao. He would get toasted. He just keeps on taking Ls. So I think him fighting me would not only be his money fight, but it would technically be the easiest challenge, right? Fighting Jake Paul would probably be easier than fighting Manny Pacquiao and it would be just as big.

“I think we’re a lot closer to a Jake Paul-Conor McGregor fight than anyone thinks. I think it could happen in the next 24 months.”

McGregor said in January he was unbothered by celebrities such as Paul stepping into the boxing world. With a trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier lined up for July, it’s unlikely McGregor will be competing against Paul anytime soon.

“Conor’s the big name,” Paul said. “He’s a A-list celebrity, and there are very few fighters who are A-list celebrities. So we’ll see what happens. I hope he wins against Dustin, I guess, so that the fight becomes more exciting.”