RICKY HATTON called Jake Paul a ‘f***ing comedian’ for calling out Canelo Alvarez and joked: ‘I’d love to knock him out myself’.
YouTube star Paul is 3-0 in his career, all by knockout, but has so far only faced limited opposition.
He beat online rival ‘AnEsonGib’ on his debut, before scoring brutal wins over ex-NBA star Nate Robinson, 37, and retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 36.
Paul, 24, now faces former UFC champion Tyron Woodley, 39, on August 28 in his fourth and toughest fight to date.
He caused a storm after opening the door to challenging Mexican legend Canelo, 30, in five years for a world title.
British boxing legend Hatton, who retired in 2012, was among those outraged by Paul’s comments, so much so he fancies teaching him a lesson.
He told The Metro: “I was listening to more bulls*** from this Jake Paul. The interviewer turned around and said what he has done in the ring speaks for itself.
“He’s boxed another f***ing Youtuber, a basketball player and an MMA fighter. What he has done in the ring speaks for itself?
“Is he taking the p*** here? Paul said he doesn’t see why he can’t be fighting Canelo for the WBC belt in five years.
“Never mind a YouTuber, this fella is a f***ing comedian! I feel like knocking him out myself!”
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Hatton, 42, was also quick to defend Tyson Fury, 32, after his undisputed title fight with Anthony Joshua, 31, collapsed.
Fury attempted to walk away from his contacted trilogy bout with Deontay Wilder, 35, to instead unify the heavyweight belts with AJ.
But Wilder took his case to arbitration and was awarded the right to an immediate rematch, which is set for July 24 in Las Vegas.
Joshua hit out at Fury for ‘let the whole boxing world down’ for failing to secure their Battle of Britain.
But Hatton stuck up for the Gypsy King, and insisted social media sensation Paul is the one putting the noble art to shame.
He said: “What Joshua said about Tyson letting the world of boxing down, you take that with a pinch of salt.
“Because at the end of the day they are both fighting men. It is when you listen to s*** from Paul, I can’t see how so many people take him seriously.
“I think he’s a clown. I thought to myself, ‘is he actually taking the p**s here, is he being sarcastic?’
“But he genuinely means it! My God. I mean I’m watching him now, not for his boxing, but for the s*** that comes out of him.”
