JAKE PAUL squashed his war of words with Tony Bellew last weekend by telling the former cruiserweight champion he respects him.
Paul lit the blue touch paper last week by claiming not to know who the Liverpudlian was, which prompted a stern warning from The Bomber.
Jake Paul was recently embroiled in a Twitter spat with Tony Bellew
But the YouTuber gave him the former WBC cruiserweight champ his just dues this past weekend in New York
Along with a picture of him knocking out Paul’s coach BJ Flores, Bellew tweeted: “Do not wake the f***ing animal up that’s been dead for years.”
The pair would come face-to-face on Saturday night at Katie Taylor’s historic clash with Amanda Serrano, where Paul extended his respect to the Brit.
He told talkSPORT: “He couldn’t carry my jockstrap, never mind get in a boxing ring with me! There’s just not a chance in this world.
“You know what? I’m going to give him his due.
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“I was coming down the stairs after work, and as I’ve done that, he’s come across me.
“He just stepped up to me and went, ‘I respect you’. He put his fist out and we touched fists.
“I thought, ‘I can have that, sound, not a problem mate’.
“I was dead on edge because I try to stay away from trouble, I don’t want any problems.
“But if you’ve got a problem, then no problem, I’ll see to it.
“But he didn’t, it was nice of him to do that.”
Paul’s rise to prominence in the boxing world initially irked Bellew, although he’s since softened his stance.
He said: “I only wish him good. Good luck to him.
“If he keeps fighting non-boxers in a boxing environment, that’s up to him. Let him keep doing what he’s doing.”
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YouTuber turned boxer Paul – who knocked out former UFC champ Tyron Woodley in his last outing – is set to return to the ring in the summer.
August 13 is the slated date for The Problem Child’s return, although an opponent has not yet been finalised.
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