Artur Beterbiev offers to fight Jake Paul for world titles
Last night in Arlington, Texas, Jake Paul secured a win over a 58-year-old Mike Tyson, marking another chapter in his controversial boxing career. Following the fight, Paul wasted no time calling out Canelo Alvarez, suggesting the pound-for-pound star could use the money. However, in a surprising twist, Artur Beterbiev, the newly crowned undisputed light heavyweight champion, has stepped forward with an offer to fight Paul.
From the moment the Tyson vs. Paul fight was announced, there were widespread ethical concerns within the sports community. Despite fears that Tyson might be knocked out, the former heavyweight champion managed to survive all eight rounds and finish on his feet. Many speculated that the decision to use 14oz gloves—four ounces heavier than typical fight gloves—played a role in reducing the impact of punches, alongside the fact that the fight was only eight 2-minute rounds.
Paul, who had famously declared “He must die” after Tyson slapped him at the weigh-in, kept his composure during the fight. Rather than attempting to stop Tyson, Paul threw a small number of combinations and refrained from going all-out. Some have speculated that a pre-fight agreement may have influenced Paul’s strategy, though this remains unclear.
While Paul’s victory technically means Tyson suffers a professional loss to the YouTuber-turned-boxer, it’s important to note that this was far from the Tyson that dominated the heavyweight division in his prime. As a result, Paul’s stock remains largely unaffected, and a fight with his rival KSI appears to be on the horizon.
In a surprising development, Artur Beterbiev has offered Paul the opportunity to challenge him for his WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO light heavyweight titles. On Instagram, Beterbiev posted: "Jake Paul, what can you do in the ring against the current undisputed champion? Just know that I’m always open to any suggestions." The Russian champion has expressed no reservations about facing Paul, even suggesting that he would enjoy the fight.
However, Beterbiev’s immediate focus remains on a rematch with Dmitry Bivol, a fight that many boxing fans are eagerly anticipating. If their first bout is anything to go by, the rematch promises to be another thriller.
As for Paul, it remains unclear when he will return to the ring or who his next opponent will be. With Beterbiev’s challenge now on the table, the options for Paul have just gotten even more intriguing.
