Paul Shuts Down ‘Salivating’ McGregor

There was a time in the not-too-distant past when social media star-turned-celebrity boxer Jake Paul, now 4-0 as a pugilist with three knockouts, saw former UFC two-division champion Conor McGregor as the “final boss” of his pro career.

Then “Notorious” dropped back-to-back fights to “a bum.”

That’s probably why Paul dismissed a “salivating” tweet from McGregor in the wake of “The Problem Child’s” split-decision victory over former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley last Sunday night (Aug. 29) in Cleveland.

“I’m salivating too because I’m just getting warmed up,” Paul told reporters (transcribed by MMA Junkie). “Conor McGregor has a lot more to focus on besides me right now. I’m five wins in a row, he’s 1-3 in the past four years. So the guy needs to get off his vodka or whatever his brand is, sober up and start to get back in the gym and then we can fucking fight.”

McGregor later claimed he was “salivating” over his dinner.

Despite some weightlifting pics from the surgically-repaired Irishman, a broken leg suffered against Poirier in their UFC 264 headliner is excepted to keep “Notorious” out of the gym until 2022, though a definitive timeline has yet to be established.

“To be honest, no way he hits harder than Woodley,” Paul continued. “He doesn’t weigh as much as Woodley. He’s shorter than Woodley. I’ve said it before the fight, I think Woodley is a harder fight than him, especially the way he’s going. Conor is going down, I’m going up. Woodley came in game, we’ll see.”

Paul is willing to entertain a Woodley rematch — under one condition — and has also been linked to a future fight against up-and-coming boxer Tommy “TNT” Fury, who captured a decision victory over Anthony Taylor last weekend in “Forest City.”