Jake Paul Defeats Mike Tyson and Sets Sights on Conor McGregor

Jake Paul continued his meteoric rise in the boxing world with a unanimous decision victory over legendary heavyweight Mike Tyson in Arlington, Texas, last night. The 27-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer showcased his skill and composure in front of a packed crowd at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium, easily outpointing the 58-year-old Tyson in a much-anticipated bout.

However, Paul is not one to rest on his laurels. Less than 24 hours after his landmark victory, he has already turned his attention to a potential showdown with former UFC champion Conor McGregor. The Irishman, who has not competed in MMA since his 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier, has been embroiled in a long-running feud with Paul. Their war of words reignited earlier today when McGregor posted—and swiftly deleted—a controversial tweet aimed at the brash American.

Following his victory, Paul wasted no time issuing a challenge to McGregor via social media platform X. “Dear Conor, I know you told my team you would fight me at 170lbs,” Paul wrote. “That’s never happening. But let’s run it in MMA. No weight class. Just like how it used to be done. But you won’t.”

Paul’s taunt underscores his desire to face McGregor on McGregor’s home turf—the MMA octagon. Given McGregor’s history, including his infamous 2017 boxing match against Floyd Mayweather Jr., fans are already buzzing about the possibility of another crossover fight.

The animosity between Paul and McGregor is no secret. In a live stream during the summer of 2024, McGregor dismissed Paul as irrelevant, expressing his disbelief at Paul headlining an event at Dallas Stadium. “I hope Mike [Tyson] rattles the little dope, no one gives a f— about him,” McGregor said at the time.

However, last night’s victory has strengthened Paul’s case as a legitimate contender in both boxing and crossover fights. When asked about McGregor in the post-fight press conference, Paul didn’t hold back.

“Yeah, he’ll [Conor McGregor] never do that though,” Paul said, referencing a potential boxing match. “He knows. He’s not his own boss. It’s easy to say Conor McGregor doesn’t want to fight Jake Paul, but it’s the f—— truth.”

Paul even pointed to his victory over Nate Diaz—another MMA star—as evidence of the disparity between MMA fighters and boxers. “Look at him go toe to toe with Nate Diaz, who was easy work for me. It was like a Monday sparring session,” Paul added.

Crossover fights between boxers and MMA fighters have gained significant popularity in recent years. Paul has been at the forefront of this trend, with wins over former MMA stars Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley, and Nate Diaz. His callout of McGregor could mark the next chapter in this genre, drawing fans from both combat sports and entertainment audiences.

Meanwhile, other notable MMA fighters have also ventured into boxing. Francis Ngannou recently made headlines for his matches against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua before returning to the octagon with a victory over Renan Ferreira in October.

As of now, McGregor has yet to respond to Paul’s challenge. However, given the growing trend of MMA-boxing crossovers and the potential financial windfall such a fight could generate, fans are hopeful the Irishman will step into the ring or octagon.

For Paul, the win over Tyson and his continued provocations toward McGregor signal his ambition to carve out a unique legacy in combat sports. Whether the fight materializes or not, Paul’s ability to stir excitement and controversy ensures that he remains a central figure in the world of boxing.