It was the super fight that so nearly happened, yet fell at the final hurdle. Andrew Tate and Jake Paul; two Marmite personalities that people love to hate.
What better match-up? Either way, one of the biggest trash talkers on the internet would taste the canvas and become an immortal meme.
The pair were long rumoured to be in talks about a mega bout, with both sides sending numerous shots across the bow at each other through podcasts and online call-out videos.
So, what happened? Around the time Paul was calling out anyone who had ever muttered the word ‘boxing’, the so-called ‘Top G’ had just risen to notoriety for his bold online statements, fleet of 33 supercars and millionaire lifestyle.
The former kickboxing world champion clearly took umbrage to the YouTube star’s initial foray into combat sports, as he laid down a $3m wager alongside a promise to make Paul quit fighting for good.
As is ever the case with boxing, the back and forth rumbled on for more than a year, with Jake’s brother, Logan, and Andrew’s brother, Tristan, also getting involved in the dispute.
That led to the Pauls making an obscene fight offer worth $40m for the quartet to settle their differences in a cage.
Speaking on an episode of the Impaulsive podcast, Jake said: “It’s $10million for Andrew, $10million for Tristan, $10million for you and $10million for me.”
Talks of a huge money clash were put on the back burner after the Tate brothers were charged with rape, human trafficking and forming an organised crime group and placed under house arrest in Romania.
As Andrew and Tristan continue their legal battle, the chances of that big showdown seem pretty slim. But let’s be real, the curiosity about who’d win if they ever threw down? That’s still alive and kicking, isn’t it?
Andrew Tate & Jake Paul: Fight Records
Tate, now 37, has been retired from the fight game for quite some time. ‘King Cobra’ won his final kickboxing bout in 2020, defeating Cosmin Lingurar by way of TKO in the second round.
Over his 13-year professional career, the Top G achieved 76 wins and 9 defeats in boxing, with an additional 2 wins and a single loss in MMA.
Paul, on the other hand, is still very much at the dawn of his fighting career. ‘The Problem Child’ currently boasts a boxing record of 9-1, with the only blotch on his CV a split-decision loss to Tommy Fury.
Since then, he has made a strong comeback with convincing victories against UFC veteran Nate Diaz, as well as lesser-known opponents Andre August and Ryan Bourland.
Despite seemingly heading down the low and slow route to build his name in boxing, Paul has performed a dramatic U-turn by announcing a bizarre exhibition against 57-year-old boxing legend, Mike Tyson.
While it’s unclear whether Paul and Tate will ever step into the ring, octagon, or cage together, one thing remains certain: fans are eager to see it happen.
Next, check out Everything You Need to Know About Fire Blood by Andrew Tate
