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Debate

Would Jake Paul stand a chance against Floyd Mayweather, or is it just a publicity stunt?

“He still got it,” John Gotti III declared as he embraced Floyd Mayweather after their entertaining 8-round fight. The 50-0 fighter indeed displayed those skills and fleeting moments of excellence, which made him a household name in his heyday. His shoulder roll, quick head movement, and the visuals of him landing a combination and then pulling away from the opponent’s reach, all evoked a cheer from the crowd. If a full-packed Arena CDMX is any indication, ‘The Best Ever’ still holds sway over fans, and therefore, it won’t be long before he again steps into the boxing ring. But the question remains. Against whom?

Mayweather, at 47, still looks fresh in the ring and has now mastered the art of pushing his foe in an exhibition fight and riding on the wave of fans’ cheers, enthusiasm, and excitement. For sure, it could be a big event next time. What about the idea of ‘The Baddest Man on the Planet’ vs. ‘Pretty Boy,’ a clash between a man who only knows how to decimate and a fighter who knows how to stay elusive?

Mike Tyson vs. Floyd Mayweather: a clash of titans

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A couple of ago, Mayweather hinted at the possibility of going blow-to-blow with Mike Tyson. Their different decades of activity and different weight classes hindered their hypothetical showdown when they were active. But now that exhibition matches are all the rage, it could be an opportunity to give fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. After all, it could be one of the biggest fights in boxing history.

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It’s a matchup that will attract eyeballs. It’s the epitome of a brawler vs. technician contest, where fans will keep their eyes glued to the screens so as not to miss a single moment of action. Every power punch could be evaded with swift leg moments, and every feeble counter-punch could be met with a thunderous blow. Not to mention their huge fan bases.

It has everything that a boxing fan craves. But Tyson is closing in on 60 and despite his willingness to don boxing gloves, his health concerns remain. If that happens, Mayweather could try to lay his hands on one of the hottest properties in the combat sports world, Jake Paul.

Sweeping the Paul family: ingredient of a revenge match

What’s your perspective on:

Would Jake Paul stand a chance against Floyd Mayweather, or is it just a publicity stunt?

Have an interesting take?

Paul, 27, has stirred the boxing landscape ever since he made his pro debut. While there were initial doubts about his boxing prowess and his ability to sustain himself in the sweet science, he has converted his fights into big paychecks. A fight between the rising star in boxing and one of the modern greats of boxing could be a fight to look out for. What’s more, there is a history of bad blood between the two and an angle of revenge, as Logan Paul got plummeted when he fought the former four-division champion in 2021.

More than a bout for supremacy, their fight could turn out to be an affair where ‘Problem Child’ finally cements his place in the boxing world and where Mayweather could leave the arena with more balance in his bank account. It’s a win-win situation for the two. But there is skepticism about the younger of the Paul brothers accepting a fight with a boxer, which could make him look bad in the boxing ring. Moreover, there are other two names that the fans want to see in the ring against the Michigan native.

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Allure of high-profile rematches: Conor McGregor and Manny Pacquiao

It has been 7 years since Conor McGregor, and Mayweather shattered boxing records. Both were at the peak of their marketability, and it helped them rack up hundreds of millions. Since then, there have been rumors of them sharing the ring again, mostly sparked by the Irish fighter’s zeal to make a fight while his UFC career is at a standstill. However, he remains a draw and one of the biggest names in combat sports, and the fans will flock to the arena to see whether ‘Notorious’ could avenge his TKO loss to Mayweather after these many years.

USA Today via Reuters

Alternatively, Mayweather could give fans another classic affair by agreeing to a rematch with Manny Pacquiao. ‘PacMan’ did announce at a Rizin event last year that the two were about to meet inside the squared circle somewhere in 2025. Millions streamed their fight back in 2015, and the fans still want to see how a healthy Pacquiao would fare against Mayweather. Interestingly, the Filipino is in talks to make a professional return this year. Then a rematch with Mayweather might not remain a dream.

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What do you make of Floyd Mayweather’s performance against John Gotti III? Who do you believe he should fight next? Let us know in the comments below.

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