TLDR
- Jake Paul suffered a broken jaw after Anthony Joshua knocked him out in the sixth round last Friday
- Former world champion George Groves predicts Paul will fight Conor McGregor next and favors Paul to win
- Groves says Paul needs to fight famous people like McGregor because of his star power
- McGregor surprised fans by sending supportive message to Paul saying ‘Fair play! Well done’
- Paul is expected to return to boxing in six weeks after jaw surgery and recovery
Former boxing world champion George Groves believes Jake Paul will face Conor McGregor in his next fight. Groves made the prediction during an interview with BetVictor Casino after Paul’s knockout loss to Anthony Joshua last Friday.
Paul lost to Joshua by sixth-round knockout and later revealed he suffered a broken jaw from the right hand that dropped him. The YouTuber-turned-boxer was taken to the hospital and underwent surgery to repair the injury.
Groves Favors Paul Over McGregor
Groves said Paul needs to fight famous opponents because of his star power and entertainment value. He believes McGregor fits that description perfectly as the biggest name in mixed martial arts.
“McGregor is the biggest name in mixed martial arts and very limited in his boxing ability,” Groves told BetVictor Casino. “I think that’ll be the route Paul will go down.”
The former super-middleweight champion said he would favor Paul to beat McGregor in a boxing match. Groves believes facing Joshua has prepared Paul mentally for any future opponent.
“I reckon he beats Conor McGregor. Nothing can scare him anymore,” Groves said. “He’s fought Joshua, he’s climbed Everest with a harness. Nothing can scare him. Conor McGregor certainly won’t scare him.”
Groves added that the trash talk between Paul and McGregor would be exceptional. He suggested Paul might even get under McGregor’s skin during the promotion.
McGregor Sends Message
McGregor, who has frequently criticized Paul in the past, surprised many by sending a supportive message after the knockout loss. Instead of mocking Paul, the Irish fighter posted a four-word tribute on social media.
Responding to Paul’s announcement about his broken jaw, McGregor wrote “Fair play! Well done.”
Groves provided a timeline for Paul’s recovery based on his own experience with a broken jaw. He said Paul could return to action in about six weeks after proper healing.
“I had my jaw wired shut, which ain’t pleasant, and then I had a plate put in the second time,” Groves said. “You’re technically back in action in six weeks.”
The recovery process will be uncomfortable for Paul during the healing period. Groves recalled his own struggles with eating during recovery.
“And then, it’s yogurt and liquids. It was horrendous,” Groves said. “That was a bit of mental torture, I thought I was gonna suffocate.”
Groves also criticized the Paul vs. Joshua event on Netflix, calling it embarrassing for the streaming platform. He said the event lacked true quality and focused only on entertainment value.
“It was embarrassing, it was awful, it was a terrible move for Netflix,” Groves told BetVictor Casino. “None of it felt like boxing. The ring walks were entertaining, but there’s only so many times you can get away with this.”
Paul managed to avoid Joshua’s attacks for four rounds before tiring in the fifth. Joshua increased the pressure in the sixth round and landed a powerful right hook that sent Paul to the canvas.
Paul has informed his supporters that he will be consuming liquids through a straw for the coming days while his jaw heals from surgery.
