ESPN analyst Stephen A Smith has picked a surprising winner for Conor McGregor and Logan Paul’s potential boxing fight.
The former two-weight UFC champion announced today on social media that he has agreed to face social media sensation and WWE star Paul in the ring, before making his octagon return. The bout would take place in India, funded by the mega-rich Ambani family.
And while talks are still at an early stage, McGregor says that there are “preliminary agreements” in place for the bout. Paul has boxed four times, most recently defeating the Irishman’s close friend Dillon Danis by DQ last year.
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Conor McGregor claims he has agreed to Logan Paul fight
This morning, Conor McGregor sent social media into overdrive as he confirmed that he has agreed to an exhibition boxing match with YouTuber and WWE superstar Logan Paul in boxing. He was rumored to be facing Ilia Topuria after discussion on social media, but turned down that report altogether.
“The rumors of a bout with Topurio are false,” he wrote on X this morning during a lengthy tweet spree. “I am in preliminary agreements with the Ambani family to face Logan Paul in a boxing exhibition in India. I have agreed. I will then seek my return to the Octagon.”
McGregor’s last official boxing match was in 2017 against Floyd Mayweather, although he has competed in a number of surprise exhibitions at his boyhood boxing club in Crumlin. He was due to fight Manny Pacquiao before coronavirus lockdowns, and has been pursuing a re-booking since.
His last fight in the octagon came in the summer of 2021 when he was stopped for a second time by Dustin Poirier. He suffered a gruesome broken leg at the end of their first round, and has since been out of action.
Stephen A Smith predicts Logan Paul will beat Conor McGregor
The discussion around a potential Paul vs McGregor fight has dominated the news lines throughout the day. And ESPN’s First Take even dedicated a lengthy statement to the bout as Shannon Sharpe and Stephen A Smith discussed the bout.
Ever the contrarian, Smith even picked against McGregor, telling viewers: “I think Logan Paul is going to beat him. I don’t think that Conor McGregor is a boxer, he’s a striker, so he’s sitting up there and he ain’t even throwing his jab, he’s pitter-pattering.
“You ain’t ‘clipping’ Logan Paul like that, you’re going to need more than that! We don’t know [what size gloves they’re wearing] but it doesn’t matter unless it’s pillows like 16 or 18oz, it ain’t going to work.
“I just think that Logan Paul is bigger, he’s a much bigger man and the more experienced boxer… Those big muscles are going to make you a bit slower and you’ve got to remember that Conor had quickness, he could catch you quick and clip you. That’s not going to be the case in the boxing ring.”
Jake Paul reacts to Logan Paul and Conor McGregor fight news
Logan’s brother Jake Paul has now made a lengthy statement regarding the fight after some fans theorised that the Irishman may have mistaken him for his older sibling. In typical fashion for the pair, he has claimed that initial talks were for him to face McGregor.
“Now it all makes sense why Conor McGregor and his management team have been desperately trying to get MVP to negotiate for a fight between us,” he wrote on X to his 4.7million followers this evening.
“As we told them them privately & I’m now saying it publicly… The only way we’re willing to explore me vs Conor in a pro boxing / mma fight is if Dana White / UFC are at the table directly or make it clear they are ok with discussions. Conor is washed. Needs the Paul’s. Logan by however he wants.”
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