Logan Paul vs Conor McGregor boxing fight is result of seven-year build that started before YouTuber's boxing debut
12/20/2024 04:29 PM
Logan Paul vowed to ‘create content’ with Conor McGregor over seven years before the UFC legend claimed to have agreed to fight him.
Earlier this week, McGregor stunned fight fans when he claimed that he has agreed to an exhibition boxing match with the elder Paul brother to take place in India next year. The bout is far from official as yet, but talks are well underway and it is not out of the realms of possibility yet.
And it seems that Paul has been calling for such a fight since long before he ever laced up a pair of boxing gloves. Both he and his brother Jake Paul were first famous YouTubers before turning to fighting, and each set their sights on the former two-weight UFC champion.
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Logan Paul wanted to ‘make content’ with Conor McGregor in 2017
Back in 2017, Jake and Logan Paul were two of the biggest and most divisive vloggers on YouTube. The siblings would create a 20-minute video detailing their lives every day, garnering millions of views and generating massive revenues.
In the August 27 iteration of his vlog series, Logan let fans in on a secret interest in fighting that he had maintained since his days wrestling in high school. He was one of the top competitors in the famously competitive State of Ohio, and regularly took part in high-level meets.
He told viewers that he had initially wanted to parlay that wrestling experience into being an MMA fighter, before finding fame and fortune on social media. And he noted that it would be a dream come true to one day make ‘content’ with Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather who were fighting that night.
He would go on to share the ring with Mayweather in an exhibition bout, and now looks to be moving towards a matchup with McGregor. In the vlog, he said of the pair: “Both of you athletes are legends, I have the utmost respect for both of you.
“Mayweather, congratulations, 50-0, bro, you’re going down in the books, you’re making history bro. McGregor, stepping out of your comfort zone to do boxing when you’re an MMA fighter, that’s unheard of, bro. History was made tonight.
“With that said, both of you athletes are straight up Mavericks… Congratulations guys, I hope to make a piece of content with either you Floyd Mayweather or Conor McGregor one day.”
Logan Paul called out Conor McGregor for a fight the following summer
A year later, the Paul brothers had entered into a feud with British YouTube stars KSI and Deji, essentially their British social media equivalents. It led to a pair of boxing fights at the Manchester Arena, with Jake stopping Deji before Logan battled to a draw against KSI.
But what is interesting looking back now is an interview the brothers gave to TMZ while at the airport heading to the UK. Logan noted that he ultimately wanted to get into the octagon, saying: “I want to fight a UFC fighter, I wrestled my whole life.
“There’s no reason I can’t, I literally did athletics my whole life, Dana White if you’re watching this, bro, pick a fighter for me, dude. Late next year [2019], I’ll be about 190lb.” Jake then noted that his brother is ‘more of an MMA fighter anyway’.
And when it came to potential opponents, after claiming he would beat up then-UFC fighter CM Punk, the topic got to McGregor. Jake halted for a minute before adding that “I think it would be dope to see one of us fight McGregor.”
Logan joked “that’s what I said bro, because we’ve got weight,” before Jake added: “If the Floyd thing happened…” However, Logan noted that they would need to ‘prove themselves’ before they could ever step into a cage or ring with the Irishman.
Now, Logan Paul and Conor McGregor are in talks for $100million+ showdown
And it seems that with six years of experience under his belt, including eight hard rounds of his own with Mayweather, that the elder Paul might be about to get his wish. On Tuesday, McGregor told fans that he plans to face Paul before making his return to the octagon.
In a viral tweet, he wrote: “The rumors of a bout with Topurio are false. I am in preliminary agreements with the Ambani family to face Logan Paul in a boxing exhibition in India. I have agreed. I will then seek my return to the Octagon.”
He has followed this up with claims that the bout will surpass his fight with Mayweather to net him a new career-high payout, telling fans: “TKO Group! UFC vs WWE. There is levels to this, a big sloppy novice is going to find out! TKO KING TITLE
“#BiggestGenerator #KingofNumbers #Streams #PPV I hold every record and I am coming back to KO this novice and rack in more numbers for the company. #StockMarketIndia #MyHighestPayPacketYet #Thanksforthecheese.”
Bloody Elbow understands that Paul has been in talks for the bout, which was confirmed by his best friend Mike Majlak in an interview with Daily Maily Sport. However, there are still many hurdles to overcome, including the UFC’s involvement.
