Jake Paul on why Conor McGregor won’t fight him, interview ahead of Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis fight

American superstar Jake Paul insists he has now surpassed UFC megastar Conor McGregor as both a boxer and pure striker – which is why the Irishman will never fight him — while also questioning Mystic Mac’s recent claims that his life has been turned around by God.

Only weeks out from his impending showdown with American superstar Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, 27-year-old Paul has also spoken with Fox Sports Australia about his upcoming sparring sessions with WBC lightweight king Shakur Stevenson, which get underway in the next 24 hours.

Having spent the past year fighting, and winning, against both Mike Tyson and Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr, 27-year-old Paul is now readying to face ‘Tank’ Davis in Miami, Florida, on November 16.

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While the popular YouTuber-turned-boxer has also long been touted for a showdown against McGregor, he stresses the former UFC king won’t take the fight for one reason – the Irishman now knows he has been surpassed.

The declaration comes as McGregor has also made headlines this week, talking about God saving his life in conjunction with a return to the UFC via the White House lawn.

Yet when asked if McGregor’s resurrection would also eventually lead to a showdown between the two, Paul replied: “I doubt it, because I just don’t think he would take that risk.

“He knows I’m a better striker and boxer than him.

“And that’s as it sits today.

“I’m only continuing to improve, too, [while] who knows what that guy is doing?

“Unfortunately, I don’t think that he ever fights me.”

Given his wins over Iron Mike and Cesar Chavez Jnr over the past 12 months, Paul is now planning to upset one of the biggest names in the sport – albeit a fighter who usually campaigns seven divisions lighter than where he sits as a cruiserweight.

Despite having already been taken to task by UFC boss Dana White for continually looking to fight smaller men, Paul’s impending exhibition against Davis will take place near the cruiserweight mark of 195 pounds – or 88.5kg.

The agreement represents a huge step up for Davis, a lightweight, who hit the scales for his March outing against Lamont Roach at 61.2kg.

Only once has Tank competed heavier, when he dethroned Mario Barrios of his WBA super lightweight crown in 2021.

Of course, it is the weight difference that makes the fight possible.

And why Paul, who boasts a 12-1 record, can take on a WBA lightweight king whose litany of scalps includes Ryan Garcia, Rolly Romero, Barrios, Isaac Cruz, Yuri Gamboa, Leo Santa Cruz and Frank Martin.

In preparation for the ‘Tank’ showdown, Paul will later this week begin sparring sessions with no less than Stevenson, which he expects to be “intense”.

“Because it’s always intense in our gym,” he said.

“There is no holding back.

“These spars are full on. That’s how you train for the fight and be prepared for all those moments.

“And I think it’ll look like what happens on November 16.

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“Depending on how good I look against someone like Shakur, it will be the same translation against Gervonta Davis.”

Elsewhere this week, Paul has also branded Davis a “fraud” and accused him of being “everything that’s wrong with boxing”, while also claiming his rival has backtracked on a $2 million bet already agreed to during their press tour earlier this month.

Speaking with The Daily Mail about said bet, Paul fired: “For me, this is personal.

“Gervonta is unprofessional. He’s everything that’s wrong with boxing.

“He is a fraud.

“He says things on stage and then doesn’t agree to it.

“Like the $2 million bet, like moving it to 10 ounce gloves. We’re still at 12-ounce gloves. He’s a joke.

“At the end of the day, a lot of people say things in this sport, and that’s why for so many years, it was dying.

“I came in, put my money where my mouth is every single time.

“I saved the sport.

“I back everything up. I make big moments, I make fights happen, I agree to fight in any condition.

“So for me, he needs to be knocked out and pay for some of these lies that he says on stage.”