Jake Paul Acknowledges There Is One Fighter He Would Never Face: “He’s Different”
Jake Paul has identified the one fighter he will not pursue for a potential matchup. The 28-year-old from Ohio last fought on December 19, suffering a stoppage in the 6th round against two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, marking his second defeat in his professional career. Paul took a devastating straight right hand that resulted in a double broken jaw, necessitating surgery, which is anticipated to keep him sidelined for a significant portion of 2026. Despite this setback, ‘The Problem Child’ is determined to return to the sport as quickly as possible, aiming to secure a shot at a version of the world cruiserweight title. In a recent conversation with ESPN, Paul ruled out ever facing two-weight world champion David Benavidez, asserting that his fellow countryman is ‘different’. “There’s a very short list of people that I wouldn’t step into the ring with, and Benavidez is on that list … That guy is different. His power, his speed, his cardio, his nonstop punching and relentless pressure. Your punches don’t mean s— to him. He has giant forearms that go from the bottom of his hip to the top of his head. You can’t get through his guard.” Benavidez made a much-anticipated comeback to the ring last November when he stopped Britain’s Anthony Yarde in the 7th round of their encounter at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The WBC light-heavyweight champion is now poised to ascend to cruiserweight, with reports indicating he is next in line to challenge unified WBA and WBO world champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez.
Published: 2026-01-03 14:46:00
source: www.secondsout.com
