Michael Bisping isn’t buying the rumors about Jake Paul.
Paul is, at least in theory, set to face Gervonta Davis in an exhibition boxing match next weekend in Miami. However, the bout was thrown into jeopardy this past weekend after a lawsuit was filed by Davis’ ex-girlfriend Courtney Rossel, accusing the boxer of battery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
While Paul and his promotion, Most Valuable Promotions, have yet to officially cancel the bout, they did release a statement saying they are investigating the matter and will decide soon. Meanwhile, rumors are swirling that Paul and his team are looking for replacement options for Davis, with boxing reporter Mike Coppinger reporting that Nate Diaz and Francis Ngannou are two of the top options.
Well, UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping calls shenanigans.
“We know that Jake Paul has been out there, and he typically is taking on people that are way older than him, like Mike Tyson, who was 58, Anderson Silva, who was way past his prime, and Nate Diaz, who was way smaller,” Bisping said on his YouTube channel. “Gervonta Davis really did take the piss. That was the craziest shout ever. To go from fighting Gervonta Davis, way smaller, to now boxing Francis Ngannou — listen, if he does it, fair play, but I just call ‘No. 1 bullsh*t on this, brother.’ I don’t see this happening. I just don’t believe it. I don’t believe it at all.
“Nate Diaz? 100 percent. He beat him once already. I’m sure Nate Diaz would love to get another big payday, because obviously, boxing on Netflix, and going up against Jake Paul, given his success, given the name that he has, and given the magnitude of his events, Nate Diaz would have to get paid an absolute fortune once again.”
Thus far, Paul’s boxing career has been largely how Bisping described it, taking bouts against older and smaller former MMA fighters. But while doing that, Paul has also teased future fights against some of the biggest names in boxing, like Anthony Joshua and Canelo Alvarez. And if Paul does ever do something like that, then Bisping is prepared to give him credit.
“We know that it wasn’t too long ago that Jake Paul was boxing Anthony Joshua, and that never came to fruition,” Bisping said. “There’s no way he would box Anthony Joshua. If he did, if he was to do something like that, whether it was Anthony Joshua or Francis Ngannou, I’d give him his props. I’d give him his credit. And you never know, maybe he would do it just for the clout. … In many ways, it would be an admirable thing to do.”
And though he doesn’t think it will happen, Bisping isn’t ready to write off an Ngannou fight entirely, because at this stage of his career, that might be the exact fight that is the best for him promotionally.
“Listen, I will say Jake Paul is definitely improving over the years,” Bisping said. “You can see the work that he’s putting in, so I do respect that. I’m not being a hater, I’m being a realist. …
“For Jake Paul, it would almost be worth that calculated risk. It would be a [win-win]. Because even if he did lose — which he would — people would be like, ‘Look at the balls on him!’”
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