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Anthony Dirrell wants to fight Jake Paul.
Dirrell, 34-3-2 (25 KOs), last fought in October 2022. Caleb Plant stopped him in that night. Dirrell, 40, is a two-time super-middleweight titleholder and has a following on social media with 221k followers on Instagram alone – something that increasingly matters, especially when calling out a fighter of the profile of Paul.
“If he is trying to be a real fighter, why not?” Dirrell told BoxingScene. “I am what he typically looks for. An older guy who hasn’t fought for a while and is naturally smaller.”
Paul, 12-1 (7 KOs), is reportedly discussing potentially facing former unified heavyweight titleholder Anthony Joshua. But Dirrell doesn’t see that happening.
“I don’t think it is going to happen,” he said. “I don’t think he takes on that risk; that is a real risk right there. I think he takes a different approach, and I could be his approach if he wants to go down that route.”
Dirrell of Flint, Michigan, made it clear that the fight could occur anywhere. When asked about the 28-year-old Paul’s professional boxing resume and why he should fight him, he was to the point.
“He could say he fought somebody,” Dirrell responded. “You can’t say you fought somebody when you fought a washed-up Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr.”
Paul fought Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr in June. He won via a unanimous decision, but had to resist some pressure from Chavez in the later rounds. Before then, Paul defeated the 58-year-old Mike Tyson in November. Dirrell, who fought at super middleweight throughout his career, points to his resume as to why he’d be an appealing opponent. Dirrell has faced various styles, including that of David Benavidez.
“I’d be his best test for sure, to see if he has got it or not,” Dirrell said. “I am a two-time world champion, so facing me is some credibility on his resume.”
