Now that he’s done with the Mike Tyson fight, attention is shifting to what Jake Paul‘s next challenge might be. The Ohio-born YouTuber-turned-boxer publicly called out Canelo Álvarez. But the question of who he will face next continues to spark debate.

Among the potential opponents, one name keeps coming up: KSI. Interestingly, the English YouTuber shares a business partnership with Paul’s elder brother, Logan Paul. However, the rivalry between ‘The Problem Child’ and KSI remains one of the most talked-about in crossover boxing. Despite the talks, the fight between the two has not materialized. KSI took a bold step by calling out Jake Paul with a ‘final offer’. In an interview, Nakisa Bidarian, Jake Paul’s close associate and co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), upped the ante with a $100 million stipulation. Mams Taylor, head of KSI’s promotion company Misfits Boxing, shared insights into the matter.

Mams Taylor: Jake Paul’s Focus on Revenue Over Risk

On his podcast ‘Fed Talks Fighting’, Fred Beck recalled the interview with Nakisa Bidarian. “With the question about KSI, I know it is the cliché one. He was saying he’ would only fight KSI at 185 or 183 pounds at a set weight for $100 million,” said Beck.

“It’s just an excuse,” replied Mams Taylor when Beck sought his views on Bidarian’s comments. He suggested Jake Paul’s team is avoiding a fight with KSI because it might be too risky. Thus prioritizing money over taking on potentially career-damaging fights.

Jake Paul’s focus is more on generating revenue from fights rather than pursuing legitimate titles or challenging opponents. If Paul were to fight KSI and lose, it could tarnish his image and derail his career ambitions.

But many followers who have a deeper understanding of boxing know there’s more to the story than meets the eye. “Because Jake won’t fight Vidal Riley, Jake won’t fight Anthony Yarde or, uh, Carl Froch or, um, you know, uh, anyone who’s a legitimate threat,” said Taylor.

However, the only exception to Paul’s ‘legitimate threat’ rule could be Canelo Alvarez.

The Canelo Álvarez Factor

Jake Paul seems more willing to take on high-profile but expected-loss fights. Losing to a top-tier boxer like Canelo Alvarez wouldn’t damage his reputation as much. Mams Taylor explained, “But you know, to him, I think marketing-wise, he’s thinking, Well, you know, it’s not the end of the world if I lose to Canelo; you know, I’m expected to lose to Canelo, but if I lose to KSI, then the house of cards falls down.”

Fred Beck sought some clarification: “Okay, so if he loses to KSI, he doesn’t get that Canelo fight; is that what we were saying?”

“Of course not; he doesn’t get any other fight, and that’s the only reason he’s not taking this fight,” replied Taylor. The Misfits Boxing head criticized Nakisa Bidarian, contrasting with his own genuine approach. He emphasized that the KSI fight is being avoided for strategic reasons since the clash with Alvarez comes with significant stakes.

Fans may now have to hear what Team Paul has to say about the latest claims.

Do you think Jake Paul’s hesitation to fight KSI is driven by the potential Canelo Álvarez bout? Let us know your thoughts.