YouTuber Jake Paul Says He Wants to Start Fighting Pro Boxers

Jake is currently training every day ahead of his fight against British YouTuber AnEsonGib on January 30, a match which will air on DAZN as part of the hotly anticipated Miami Fight Night. And he won't just be fighting for himself: following Logan's defeat against KSI last year, Jake is fighting for his family's reputation. But as he tells Men's Health, he's not feeling any extra pressure.

"It motivates me," he says. "I think my brother losing motivates me, and gives me a reason to work even harder to, you know, avenge him. Our family name is on the line. And I work well under pressure. Theres a huge goal to achieve, I have a mission to accomplish, and its really exciting."

Jake is training for the big fight with professional boxers "Sugar" Shane Mosley and BJ Flores, who are putting him through his paces with two rigorous practices every day. Mornings consist of cardio and ring work, followed by an ice bath and rest before an afternoon of sparring. "Trainings going amazing, weve put in the work already," says Jake. "If the fight was tomorrow, Id be ready."

The pivot from YouTube to the boxing ring might seem odd to some, but for Jake, it's been years in the making. "Ive always been competitive as an athlete," he says. "Growing up, I was a state wrestler, on the football team... And now, I've caught the boxing bug. I've fallen in love with the sport." He goes as far as to joke that his recent divorce from Tana Mangeau was because, "I fell out of love with my wife and fell in love with boxing."

And while he's looking forward to fighting Gib on January 30, he won't be satisfied just facing his fellow YouTubers in the ring: he thinks he has what it takes to take on the pros. "It's something I want to dominate. I dont just want to be the best professional influencer boxer, but evolve into fighting actual combat sport professionals."

He's still got a hit list of celebs he'd like to go a few rounds with, though. During a bout of rapidfire questions, Jake revealed the famous person he'd most like to fight ("6ix9ine, when he gets out of jail") and the person in the world he'd most like to punch in the face ("R. Kelly"). And when asked who would win in a match between him and his brother, he gives a typically self-assured answer.

"Me, for sure," he says. "I think Logan knows Im a better boxer. He would be scared to get in the ring with me. Hes said he wouldnt want to punch me in the face, he doesnt have that killer mentality like I do."

Not that these ambitions to go pro as a boxer will ever fully take him away from the platform that got him where he is. "YouTube will always be a part of my career and something that I do, but Ive already conquered that, become the best at it. For me, this is something more exciting, something that doesnt have a cap, it has unlimited potential," Paul says. "This is not a one-off stop for me, we have a long term plan, me and my team. We have a list of targets, and I plan on checking them off one by one and going after those guys. Im obsessed with boxing."

The Jake Paul vs. AnEsonGib match will stream during Miami Fight Night on DAZN on January 30.