Jake Paul has become a hot target for professional boxers after his controversial win against Mike Tyson last year. The 27-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer beat the 58-year-old former undisputed heavyweight champion in an eight-round bout that left many in the boxing world scratching their heads.
The fight's outcome sparked quite a stir. Some even claimed it was rigged, though these allegations were quickly dismissed as illogical. Now, seasoned pros are lining up to challenge Paul, driven by a mix of wanting to avenge Tyson's loss and the prospect of a big payday.
One of these challengers is IBF Heavyweight World Champion Daniel Dubois. He didn't mince words when he called out Paul in a recent interview with Box Nation.
"You've got to man. He's taken liberties with Mike. For the boxing community. To make some noise. Easy money. That would be a crazy shot wouldn't it? Giving a YouTuber a chance to become heavyweight champion of the world … I don't know, let's see … Money talks."
Dubois has been on a tear lately. In December 2023, he handed Jarrell Miller his first loss. He followed that up in June 2024 with a bloody battle against Filip Hrgovic, handing him his first defeat too. When Oleksandr Usyk vacated the IBF belt, Dubois got upgraded to full champion status.
But Dubois wasn't done yet. He silenced his doubters with a fifth-round knockout of Anthony Joshua, marking his 21st stoppage in 22 wins. Now, he's gearing up to face Joseph Parker on February 22, 2025.
In the full interview, Dubois made it clear he's not just after Paul. His ultimate goal? A rematch with Usyk for a shot at becoming the undisputed champion.
While Dubois focuses on his upcoming fight and future plans, the boxing world watches with interest to see if Jake Paul will answer any of these callouts from professional boxers. The contrast between Paul's controversial win over a 58-year-old legend and the challenges from current champions like Dubois certainly makes for an interesting storyline in the boxing world.
