ESPN analyst Stephen A Smith has picked a surprise winner for Conor McGregor and Logan Paul's potential boxing fight.
The former two-weight UFC champion announced on social media today that he has agreed to meet social media sensation and WWE star Paul in the ring before he makes his octagon return. The fight would take place in India, financed by the mega-rich Ambani family.
And while talks are still at an early stage, McGregor says 'tentative agreements' have been made for the fight. Paul has boxed four times and last year defeated the Irishman's good friend Dillon Danis by DQ.
Conor McGregor claims he agreed for Logan Paul to fight
This morning, Conor McGregor sent social media into a frenzy when he confirmed he had agreed to an exhibition boxing match with boxing YouTuber and WWE superstar Logan Paul. He was rumored to face Ilia Topuria after discussion on social media, but he dismissed that report altogether.
“The rumors of a fight with Topurio are false,” he wrote on X this morning during a lengthy tweet. “I have made preliminary arrangements with the Ambani family to meet Logan Paul at a boxing exhibition in India. I agreed. I will then seek my return to the Octagon.”
McGregor's last official boxing match was against Floyd Mayweather in 2017, although he has taken part in a number of surprise exhibitions at his boyhood boxing club in Crumlin. He was set to fight Manny Pacquiao before the coronavirus lockdown, and has been pursuing a new booking since.
His last fight in the octagon came in the summer of 2021 when he was stopped for a second time by Dustin Poirier. He suffered a horrific broken leg at the end of their first round and has been out of action since.
Stephen A Smith predicts Logan Paul will beat Conor McGregor
The discussion surrounding a possible fight between Paul and McGregor has dominated the news wires all day. And ESPN's First Take even dedicated a lengthy statement to the fight as Shannon Sharpe and Stephen A Smith discussed the fight.
Always a contrarian, Smith even sided against McGregor, telling viewers: “I think Logan Paul is going to beat him. I don't think Conor McGregor is a boxer, he's a striker, so he's up there and he's not even throwing his jab, he's chatting.
“You don't 'cut' Logan Paul like that, you need more than that!” We don't know [what size gloves they’re wearing] but it doesn't matter unless they are 16 or 18 oz pillows it won't work.
“I just think Logan Paul is bigger, he's a much bigger man and the more experienced boxer… Those big muscles will make you a little bit slower and you have to remember Conor had speed, he could catch you quickly and cut you. That will not be the case in the boxing ring.”
Jake Paul reacts to the news of the Logan Paul vs. Conor McGregor fight
Logan's brother Jake Paul has now released a lengthy statement about the fight after some fans theorized that the Irishman may have mistaken him for his older sibling. In typical fashion for the pair, he has claimed initial talks were about facing McGregor.
Photo by Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for Triller
“Now it all makes sense why Conor McGregor and his management team have been desperately trying to get MVP to negotiate a fight between us,” he wrote on X to his 4.7 million followers tonight.
“As we told them privately and I'm saying it publicly now… The only way we want to explore me versus Conor in a pro boxing/MMA fight is if Dana White/UFC is right at the table or makes it clear they are okay with discussions. Conor is being washed. Needs the Paul. Logan does it the way he wants.”
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