Boxing News: YouTuber Interest In Conor McGregor Fight Dwindles; Bout May Still Happen

Conor McGregor is recuperating from a gruesome injury, and it may take time before he can return to the Octagon.

Tied to that, questions on a potential boxing match with YouTube sensation Jake Paul have also taken a hit.

But as far as the 24-year-old is concerned, the chances of seeing him face the Irishman have dimmed.

It is no secret that the ex-UFC champion was one of the potential opponents of Paul. But it appears all that has taken a dramatic twist.

Paul pointed out the fact that McGregor has lost three of his last four fights.

Regardless, there is no denying that seeing the two clash would be a big pay-per-view draw.

However, the YouTuber made it clear that he did not want to face fighters on a losing skid when he appeared on The Undisputed.

Since 2016, McGregor has won only once. This was his fight against Donald Cerrone at UFC 257, where “The Notorious” won via technical knockout in the first round.

Other than that, the rest of his recent fights have been losses. That included a submission loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 and two TKO defeats to Dustin Poirier at UFC 257 and UFC 264 respectively.

In his last match against Poirier, McGregor suffered a horrific leg injury that places his future in doubt.

There is no timetable for his return, and Paul is probably aware of that.

It may also be the reason why he wrote off McGregor. But looked at in another way, it could be a way of taking a swipe at the 33-year-old mixed martial artist.

An affirmation of that should come if McGregor responds to Paul’s jab.

For now, Paul is busy preparing for his next fight. He is set to face another UFC fighter in Tyron Woodley on Aug. 29.

Paul continues to draw criticism for taking on non-boxers.

ESPN Sports Center Asia correspondent Aaron Atayde weighed in on the hot topic of YouTubers invading the sport of boxing on the Sports for All PH podcast alongside Filipino journalists Vincent Juico and Brian Yalung.

“I think it is good for boxing but bad for boxers. If that makes sense. I also think that it is good for smart boxers and bad for shy boxers. I don’t think that there was ever a time except if you go back to the heyday of Manny [Pacquiao] that there were these many eyes watching boxing. It’s good for the sport,” Atayde explained.