Conor McGregor accepts $50m deal and Tommy Fury agreement - Jake Paul's dream scenario

Jake Paul's triumph over Mike Tyson has once again thrust him into the boxing spotlight. Despite 'The Problem Child' not yet defeating a top-ranked, active boxer, speculation is rife about who he will face next.

Paul comfortably defeated 'Iron Mike' in eight two-minute rounds, but fans and critics alike are hoping his next opponent will provide a greater challenge. There are several potential paths for Paul to take in 2025.

The Ohio native has been smart in choosing opponents that benefit him most so far, but taking on a riskier fight could pay off next year. In line with Paul's strategy of pursuing lucrative fights, a match against Conor McGregor could be his best move.

After all, it wouldn't be his first time defeating a UFC fighter, even if 'Notorious' hasn't fought in more than three-and-a-half years. Among Paul's previous MMA opponents are Anderson Silva, Nate Diaz, Tyron Woodley (twice), Ben Askren and Mike Perry.

However, a fight against arguably the most famous UFC fighter of all time would surpass the profile and potential earnings of all those victories combined, reports the Irish Star. It was back in December 2020 when Jake Paul made headlines by publicly calling out Conor McGregor with a whopping $50 million offer (£40m) for a bout,

By then, the YouTuber had just a couple of wins under his belt and taunted McGregor about his single pro boxing match – a loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr by TKO.

After his victory over Ben Askren, Paul took to social media to challenge the 36 year old McGregor to an MMA fight, saying: "Dear Conor, I know you told my team you would fight me at 170 pounds. That's never happening. But let's run it in MMA. No weight class. Just like how it used to be done. But you won't."

Meanwhile, as Paul prepared for his bout with Tyson, McGregor made no secret of his disdain, expressing his desire for Mike to "rattle the little dope."

Despite their differences, including a nine-year age gap, the lure of money might just bridge the divide, potentially tempting McGregor back into the ring. And who could overlook the single blemish on Paul's otherwise impressive 11-1 record?

Tommy Fury narrowly defeated Paul by split decision in their February 2023 encounter.

Despite the time that has passed since their first fight, the hostility between them remains palpable. While some question the wisdom of a second fight with Tommy Fury, Tyson Fury's half-brother, in terms of its draw, Tommy Fury is gearing up for a match against former UFC welterweight Darren Till in January and is confident about a rematch with Paul.

"In a heartbeat, yeah. I mean at the end of the day I think me and him, we're set in stone," he declared in an ESPN interview. "He's only got one defeat and that's to me, so it's inevitable that we are going to get back in the ring."

Paul's former coach, BJ Flores, informed The Sun that Tyson Fury was making "unreasonable" demands regarding the purse for another bout with Paul. Despite this, if financial details can be ironed out, Paul has the chance to avenge his sole defeat in professional boxing.

Should Paul seek a more genuine challenge than retired sportsmen and ex-basketball stars, potential world title fights are on offer. IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois beckoned Paul to the ring via Instagram, messaging: "Hi Jake, good business on the weekend but how would you feel fighting for the legitimate heavyweight championship of the world this is Daniel Dubois calling you out. Let's get it on."

After recently defeating Anthony Joshua, Dubois received from Paul the retort to "get in line," though he did express consideration for the proposition.

This openness contrasts with his reaction to undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev's invitation, who also tempted Paul with a title shot through Instagram: "@JakePaul what can you do in the ring against the current undisputed champion. Just know I'm always open to any suggestions," Beterbiev penned. Paul claimed dominion over the sport yet left Beterbiev's offer without a definitive response.

Should he wish to cement a lasting legacy in the sport, replicating Mayweather's victory over McGregor, avenging his sole career defeat against Fury, and then challenging a current world champion would make 2025 an incredibly successful year for him.