Badou Jack and Noel Mikaelian would welcome title showdown with Jake Paul

LOS ANGELES – Jake Paul said he envisions a way to emerge from his daunting assignment next week versus two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and still fight for a cruiserweight title.

Noel Mikaelian, seeking to recapture the WBC cruiserweight belt Saturday here against veteran champion Badou Jack, would rush to make a title defense against Paul, but first he has some advice for the popular YouTuber to preserve his title fight dreams.

“He has to put on tennis shoes and run because A.J. is no joke,” Mikaelian told BoxingScene at his media workout.

In the main event of a PPV.COM card, Mikaelian, 27-3 (12 KOs), said he was contacted by Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions team about fighting when he first won the cruiserweight belt by defeating Junior Makabu by TKO in late 2023.

“His team was mentioning it. I was ready for it,” Mikaelian said. “Right now, it depends on him. If he wants to dance, I’m a good dance partner.” 

Champion Jack, 29-3-3 (17KOs), agreed with the sentiment that it would be ideal at age 42 to meet Paul as he closes in on the end of a long and winding career.

“It’s a money fight and this is business, so of course [I’m interested],” Jack said. “But there’s no way he’s going to last more than two rounds against A.J. No way.

“Him getting knocked out, I don’t think he can fight for a title after that. At least not right away. But you’ve got to give him credit. He’s a YouTuber/Disney kid fighting Mike Tyson, A.J., a bunch of MMA guys and he’s done well for himself.”

Jack said he must first focus on Mikaelian before any discussion of what’s next.

Allowing a discussion of the future to occur, Jack said he would frankly rather turn to Paul as the undisputed cruiserweight champion, even as fellow champions Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez and Jai Opetaia would stand as prohibitive favorites in a bout versus Jack.

“I’m focusing on the top guys. If [Paul] happens, it happens,” Jack said.”I’m focusing on the other champions. I’m the only one who’s been calling out Jai Opetaia. He’s got a lot of hype. I’d love to fight him.”