Tony Bellew says that he would fight Jake Paul

Tony Bellew has never been one to mince words. The former cruiserweight champion isn’t thrilled about the state of boxing these days, especially with YouTubers like Jake Paul dipping their toes into the sport. But Bellew isn’t dismissive either. When pressed about whether he’d fight Jake Paul himself, Bellew admits there’s one thing that could bring him into the ring: money.

“I’ve got no real hunger or desire to face Jake Paul, if I’m being totally honest,” Bellew says, straight to the point. “Do I want to? No, not really. But would I? Yes. Everyone’s got a price.”

Bellew is 41 now, retired since 2018, when he hung up his gloves after a brutal knockout loss to undisputed cruiserweight champ Oleksandr Usyk. His career, though, speaks for itself - 30 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw, with a stint as the WBC cruiserweight titleholder. He’s been in the trenches with the best, and his disdain for the circus around Paul’s career is palpable.

Jake Paul, on the other hand, has built a reputation of his own - though not in the way most traditional boxing fans respect. Paul’s most recent victory came over UFC veteran Michael Perry in July, a fight he won with a sixth round TKO. That brought his record to 10 wins and 1 loss, his sole defeat coming at the hands of Tommy Fury in February 2023, where he dropped a split decision in a tightly contested bout. But the 27-year-old’s wins have been over mostly MMA fighters and fellow social media personalities, which is where Bellew’s frustration lies.

Bellew’s criticism comes amid growing noise surrounding Paul’s upcoming fight with Mike Tyson, set for November 15 in Texas. Tyson, now 58, is far removed from his prime - his last professional fight was nearly 20 years ago, in 2005, a loss to Kevin McBride. Tyson himself has faced recent health issues, even having to postpone the fight earlier this year due to an ulcer flare-up. But Paul seems determined to keep the spectacle alive, even if it does little for his reputation among true boxing fans.

“When you’ve got to pull out because of health reasons, then the writing’s on the wall, really, isn’t it?” Bellew says, with a hint of concern for the former heavyweight champ. “I just hope he’s healthy. That’s all I hope for. He’s Mike Tyson, he’s a legend of the sport. I just hope he remains healthy and safe.”

Bellew is clear, though - he doesn’t think Paul is gaining anything from this. “More financial freedom, I don’t think there’s anything more that can be gained,” Bellew says, his voice laced with exasperation. “He gains nothing from boxing fans. From real boxing ones, it’s a freak show, it’s a gimme, it’s a joke.”

According to Bellew, Paul can only earn true respect in the sport by stepping up against actual boxers. “Face a British champion, face a European journeyman and win,” Bellew says. “But he doesn’t. He’s very smart. From a business perspective, he’s super, super smart. I’ve gotta credit him on that. But when it comes to it, it’s just sad what he’s doing.”

And yet, Bellew isn’t above considering a fight with Paul himself, as much as he might be disgusted by the idea. For the right price, Bellew would lace up his gloves again, though he makes it clear it’s not a fight he’s chasing. “Would I? Yeah, absolutely. But do I want to? Not really, no.”

It’s not about the competition for Bellew - he’s had that in spades during his career. It’s about the payday. And in the current landscape of boxing, where spectacle often trumps skill, who could blame him for being tempted by the lure of easy money?