JAKE PAUL fighting Conor McGregor ‘would be competitive’ as the YouTuber has a near THREE STONE advantage, his sparring partner said.
Paul has continued to target a boxing match with McGregor, who was beaten on his ring debut against Floyd Mayweather in 2017.
The social media sensation is currently 3-0, all by knockout, and faces his biggest challenge to date in ex-UFC champion Tyron Woodley, 39, next.
They are set to fight at 190lb, or 13st 5lb and McGregor is naturally an 11st contender in the UFC’s lightweight division.
Anthony Taylor, Paul’s chief sparing partner, revealed the cruiserweight boxer naturally weighs 15st 3lb.
That compared to the 12st 8lb he predicts McGregor walks around at gives the Irishman almost a three stone disadvantage.
Taylor, 32, told Betway Insider: “You got to understand, we’re not dealing with exhibitions.
“We’re talking about professional boxing matches licensed by the commission with an agreement on the weight class.
“Jake walks around about 215lbs, Conor walks around at 180lbs, he’d have to go up to 190lbs.
“I think Jake would drop down to 190lbs for Conor – he’s fighting Tyron at 190lbs.
“That fight is tricky because Conor is a lefty but Jake has more body mass, more range.
“You’re dealing with a guy that’s heavy. It would be competitive.”
McGregor has flirted with a return to the ring, last year entering negotiations with Manny Pacquiao.
But after he was knocked out in January by Dustin Poirier – the man he initially beat in 2014 – talks with Pacquiao, 42, collapsed.
McGregor, 33, then lost his trilogy bout with Poirier, 32, after suffering a horror leg break seconds before the first round ended.
He has since undergone surgery and is already training but will need to complete his six-month medical suspension.
Meanwhile Paul, who has wins over online rival ‘AnEsonGib’, ex-NBA star Nate Robinson, 37, and retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 37, returns to the ring on the weekend.
Bellator lightweight Taylor has been sparring the American in prepration for the fight against Woodley.
And he opened up about the secret sparring sessions, which have taken place in Puerto Rico.
Taylor revealed: “When you put a guy like Jake in the boxing ring with a guy like Tyron, Jake’s going to win that all day, just because he’s been working on the repetition and the mechanics of boxing.
“Tyron technically has a punchers chance but Jake is a better boxer.
“Tyron is a better fighter because of his MMA background, but Jake is a better boxer.
“There’s a lot of people that think Tyron is going to knock out Jake. But I see it the other way around. He’s looking great.”
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