Former boxing world champion George Groves recently made a prediction, suggesting Jake Paul‘s next opponent will be Conor McGregor. He also dropped a bold claim about the YouTuber-turned-Boxer’s mindset after facing Anthony Joshua.
Paul lost by 6th round knockout to Joshua last Friday. After the bout, he revealed that he suffered a broken jaw as a result of the right hand that dropped him. Many in the combat sports community criticized his performance, while others, including his MVP CEO, praised his toughness.
There is growing speculation on Paul’s future in boxing and who he will fight once he is cleared to return. During an interview with BetVictor Casino, Groves said Paul’s opponent needs to be a notable name because of his star power.
Groves predicts Paul will ultimately face McGregor and added that he would favor ‘The Problem Child’ to get the win.
“McGregor is the biggest name in mixed martial arts and very limited in his boxing ability. I think that’ll be the route Paul will go down,” Groves said. “[Paul] needs to fight famous people. [McGregor] would really sell.”
He emphasized that Paul’s latest fight with Joshua will make it difficult for McGregor to intimidate him.
“I reckon [Paul] beats Conor McGregor. Nothing can scare him anymore. He’s fought [Joshua], he’s climbed Everest with a harness,” Groves said. “Nothing can scare him. Conor McGregor certainly won’t scare him. The trash talk will be exceptional. He might even get under McGregor’s skin.”
George Groves Provides Likely Timetable for Jake Paul’s Return
George Groves also provided a likely timetable for Jake Paul’s return to the ring. His recovery may not be as long as other injuries, but it will certainly be an uncomfortable one.
Speaking with BetVictor Casino, the former super-middleweight champion recalled his own experience recovering from a broken jaw. He noted that Paul can likely return to action after six weeks. However, he will be very limited with his food options in the meantime.
“I had my jaw wired shut, which ain’t pleasant, and then I had a plate put in the second time. You’re technically back in action in six weeks. With a plate and the healing, your jaw can heal better than before the break,” Groves said. “Hopefully, they get his jaw wired shut, and then you literally can’t open your mouth.”
He added:
“And then, it’s yogurt and liquids. It was horrendous. That was a bit of mental torture, I thought I was gonna suffocate.”
Groves Says Paul vs. Joshua Was Embarrassing for Netflix
Groves also didn’t hold back when sharing his thoughts on the Paul vs. Joshua event for Netflix. He believes the streaming giant should be associating its platform with higher quality bouts instead.
Groves said the event lacked true quality and was strictly focused on entertainment. After what unfolded, he believes it could be difficult to continue promoting Paul’s fights.
“It was embarrassing, it was awful, it was a terrible move for Netflix. I love Netflix, I want them to be involved with big-time boxing, but this is not a fight that’s gonna be shown time and time again,” Groves told BetVictor Casino. “None of it felt like boxing. The ring walks were entertaining, but there’s only so many times you can get away with this.”
Although Groves believes Paul vs. Joshua was a bad look, Netflix would likely have strong interest if Paul were to face McGregor.
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