The next big event in the world of influencer boxing looks likely to take place in India. That’s where creator, podcaster, and entrepreneur Logan Paul will fight against former UFC star Conor McGregor, according to a statement from McGregor himself.
McGregor broke the news of the Paul fight in a tweet. “The rumors of a bout with [Ilia Topuria] are false,” wrote the 36-year-old Irishman. “I am in preliminary agreements with the Ambani family to face Logan Paul in a boxing exhibition in India.”
The Ambanis rank among the world’s wealthiest families. Patriarch Mukesh Ambani currently ranks as the richest person in Asia and the 9th-richest person in the world, according to Forbes.
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As Indians embrace the influencer boxing trend, a high-profile fight between a major creator and a combat sports legend would be a fitting next step. Last month, when Logan’s brother Jake fought Mike Tyson live on Netflix, the undercard included a bout between Indian fighter Neeraj Goyat and Brazil’s Whindersson Nunes. Goyat won in a unanimous decision.
India’s infatuation with Western creators goes beyond the nation’s embrace of a concept popularized by Logan Paul and KSI. Millions of viewers in the world’s most populous nation have become passionate fans of prominent English-speaking personalities. As an example, take a look at Carry Minati’s MrBeast parody, which features some of India’s biggest YouTube stars and currently counts about 75 million total views.
Logan Paul may not be quite as big as MrBeast, but as long as his clash against McGregor comes to fruition, it will likely draw millions of views in India and across the globe. Thanks to McGregor’s destructive behavior and legal issues, his star doesn’t shine as bright as it used to, but a fight against a major creator would nevertheless pay off years of rumors, hype, and negotiations. Back in 2020, Logan’s brother Jake said that he was in talks to fight McGregor, but the deal never came to fruition.
Even if Logan gets in the ring against McGregor, it won’t put an end to criticisms about the Paul brothers’ combat sports records. Jake in particular has been accused of preying on over-the-hill fighters rather than fighting evenly-matched opponents.
McGregor certainly fits into that category. His only sanctioned boxing experience was a 2017 loss to Floyd Mayweather, and his UFC career has been on standstill since breaking his leg during a 2021 defeat against Dustin Poirier. In his tweet announcing his planned clash with Paul, he noted that he plans to resume his mixed martial arts career after the fight.
Paul, who has fought Mayweather himself, looks to be returning to influencer boxing after spending a few years on the WWE circuit. Though his wrestling exploits made him a fan favorite, he recently revealed his retirement from the WWE during an episode of his podcast Impaulsive. “Come on, I’m retired,” he said. “I’m a dad, bro.”
As Paul transitions to fatherhood, his pugilistic career seems destined for the back burner. But before it gets there, he looks primed to give viewers at least one more thrill in the ring — and his Indian fans will surely love it.
