Home Interviews Jake Paul eyes Canelo: I’m a better fighter than Saunders and Yildirim

Jake Paul eyes Canelo: I’m a better fighter than Saunders and Yildirim

Paul says he would like to face Canelo within three years

Jake Paul is targeting a future clash with pound-for-pound star Canelo Alvarez Photo Credit: Esther Lin/SHOWTIME
Jake Paul is targeting a future clash with pound-for-pound star Canelo Alvarez Photo Credit: Esther Lin/SHOWTIME

Jake Paul has sensationally claimed he is a better fighter than both Billy Joe Saunders and Avni Yildirim, after targeting a showdown with Canelo Alvarez in three years.

YouTube sensation, Paul (3-0, 3 KOs) fights for the fourth time as a professional when he faces former UFC Welterweight champion, Tyron Woodley in Cleveland on August 29th on SHOWTIME pay-per-view.

The pair traded verbal blows at a press conference held in Los Angeles on Tuesday, before ‘The Problem Child’ revealed his desire to face pound-for-pound king Canelo within the next three years.

“I want to add experience. I want to go after Canelo in three years. I want to be a world champion,” the 24-year-old said.

The Mexican four-weight world champion knocked out mandatory challenger Avni Yildirim in three rounds in February and added Billy Joe Saunders’ WBO title to his WBA ‘Super’ and WBC Super Middleweight titles with an eighth round stoppage win in May.

Yet, Paul who stopped another former UFC fighter in Ben Askren inside a round in April believes he has better attributes than both Saunders and Yildirim and insists it would be a logical business move for the pair to fight.

“If Billy Joe Saunders, who fights like a wild chicken can go in there and get a payday and fight Canelo and last that many rounds,” the Ohio man told reporters.

“Or Yildirim, the Turkish Warrior can go in there and last three rounds, nine minutes.

“Yildirim didn’t throw a single f****** punch. I’m a much better fighter than both of those boxers and I’m bigger, faster, stronger, more athletic.

Canelo stopped Avni Yildirim in three rounds in February Photo Credit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing
Canelo stopped Avni Yildirim in three rounds in February Photo Credit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing

“So if those guys can go in there and hang in there with Canelo, can Jake Paul in three years go 12 rounds with him and beat him? We’ll see.

“Y’all we’re the same people that laughed 18 months ago when I said ‘oh I’ll fight Conor McGregor’ and no-one thought it was possible and now it’s like he can’t even beat a 155 pounder.

“So it seems as if I’m predicting the future and I think Jake Paul vs Canelo not only is it a smart business decision, but I will perform better than the Yildirim, Turkish Warrior who couldn’t even throw a f****** punch.”

Canelo secured an eighth round TKO win over Billy Joe Saunders in May Photo Credit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom
Canelo secured an eighth round TKO win over Billy Joe Saunders in May Photo Credit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom

Both Paul and Woodley have predicted knockout victories within the first three rounds of their meeting, whilst they agreed to a bizarre bet for the loser of the fight to get a tattoo of the winner’s name on them.

Woodley, 40, makes his professional boxing debut after his UFC contract ended earlier this year and his rival believes that he will fold under the magnitude of the occasion.

Paul fights for the fourth time as a professional against Tyron Woodley on August 29th Esther Lin/SHOWTIME
Paul fights for the fourth time as a professional against Tyron Woodley on August 29th Esther Lin/SHOWTIME

“I think I’m in his head,” Paul added.

“I think the pressure will get to him and the pressure will crack him.

“This is the biggest fight of his life and there’s hundreds and hundreds of MMA fighters who are counting on him to knock me out and I don’t think he’s ever dealt with pressure like that before.”