Jake Paul challenges Mayweather to 'real fight' after altercation
Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather and YouTube star turned prizefighter Jake Paul were involved in an altercation Wednesday night in Miami.
Mayweather and his entourage confronted Paul outside Miami-Dade Arena after an NBA game between the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers. TMZ Sports published video of the incident.
Someone with Mayweather could be heard saying, "Let's bust him up" before Paul ran off and ensured things didn't get physical.
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) March 9, 2023
On Thursday morning, Paul dared Mayweather to agree to face him in a "real fight" and not an exhibition bout. But he tweeted it's "a fact" that Mayweather would not do that.
Floyd will not see me 1 on 1 in a real fight. That’s a fact. His team has hit my team numerous times to do one of his “exhibitions”. Now he ambushes me 🤣. Come see me in the ring, real fight, no exhibition robbing fans bullshit.
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) March 9, 2023
Paul said in a video on his Instagram stories that Mayweather "and 50 dudes" showed up "out of nowhere, out of some side alley" and seemed to be waiting for him.
"And then 50 dudes literally start surrounding me to try and jump me," Paul said. "I out that b----. Floyd, if you want to run it one-on-one, no problem. I'm not dumb, OK? I'm tough. I don't need to prove my toughness. But I'm not f-----g dumb. I'm not going to sit there and try to fight 50 dudes. ... Floyd, you're a ho, bro."
Sources close to Mayweather told TMZ Sports that he simply ran into Paul after the game and confronted him because of Paul's previous trash talk and "below-the-belt" behavior.
Paul snatched a baseball cap off Mayweather's head at a 2021 press event that was promoting Mayweather's exhibition boxing match against Paul's older brother, Logan Paul. Mayweather then went after Jake in what became a viral scuffle.
Jake Paul has made big waves in the boxing world since turning pro in 2020. He suffered the first loss of his career Feb. 26, falling to Tommy Fury by split decision.
Mayweather retired from professional competition in 2017 but has participated in several exhibitions since then. He is coming off a dominant showing against reality star and former MMA fighter Aaron Chalmers on Feb. 25.