Jake Paul has been tipped to fight Conor McGregor in a hybrid bout next, despite breaking his jaw against Anthony Joshua.
Paul lost by sixth-round knockout against former two-time unified world heavyweight champion Joshua on December 19, with his record now 12-2, having previously suffered defeat to Tommy Fury in 2023.
Despite breaking his jaw in two places, Paul’s reputation has seemingly been enhanced after the loss, with many members of the boxing community – including Chris Eubank Jr - suggesting he deserves respect for competing against AJ.
Following the bout, Paul posted a photograph of an X-ray which clearly showed the extent of his broken jaw, while also calling out Mexican fighter Saul ‘Canelo' Alvarez, having earlier said that he was going to take a break from boxing.
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Paul confirmed he had surgery and two titanium plates fitted, as well as several teeth removed.
And given his current condition, the 28-year-old American will likely spend at least a few months out of the ring.
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However, upon his return, his profile will be as big as it has ever been due to the AJ fight, with Paul, no doubt, already plotting his next move.
According to one former world champion, a potential crossover fight with McGregor could be next.
George Groves, who held the WBA (Super) super-middleweight title between 2017 and 2018, believes that Paul and McGregor could go toe-to-toe in a hybrid fight involving boxing, bare knuckle, and wrestling.
Speaking to Bet Victor Casino, the Londoner said: “Conor 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.
“You could get a ranking, you can get a WBC interim belt, you can get anything you want in boxing if you create and generate money, but fighting for the USA Cruiserweight Championship, no one cares. He needs to fight famous people. Conor McGregor would really sell.
“I reckon Jake Paul beats Conor McGregor. Nothing can scare him anymore. He's fought Anthony Joshua, he's climbed Everest without a harness. Nothing can scare him. Conor McGregor certainly won't scare him. The trash talk will be exceptional. He might even get under Conor McGregor's skin.
“It could be a boxing match for the first three rounds, then a wrestling match, and then just bare-knuckle for the last three. I make Jake Paul the favourite.”
McGregor, who has not fought in the UFC since the summer of 2021, is currently serving an 18-month suspension for violating UFC anti-doping policy.
According to Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD), the Irishman missed three attempted biological sample collections in 12 months in 2024.
The suspension began on September 20, 2024 – the date of the third whereabouts test failure – and will run until March 20, 2026.
McGregor has also been linked with a return to action on the UFC White House card on June 14 - President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday - with the fights set to take place on the South Lawn of the White House.
The 37-year-old previously fought Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a crossover professional boxing match in 2017, with McGregor losing by tenth-round TKO. He has also suggested he could compete in bare-knuckle boxing.
Topics: Jake Paul, Conor McGregor, Boxing, MMA, Anthony Joshua
Luke Davies