Piers Morgan fires back after Jake Paul legal threat over 'staged' fight claim
'What I meant is that his fights have been predominantly against older, past-their-prime opponents, which may be lucrative for both sides.'
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Now this is what we’d call fighting words.
Piers Morgan “clarified” his previous statement that Jake Paul’s fights were “staged” after the YouTuber-turned-boxer threatened legal action against the TV host.
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Piers Morgan fires back after Jake Paul legal threat over 'staged' fight claim Back to video
In a post on social media site X, Morgan appeared to walk back his initial claim while also pointing out the quality of Paul’s in-ring opponents.
“I posted a few weeks ago that Jake Paul’s boxing career has been ‘boring staged bulls***.’ What I meant is that his fights have been predominantly against older, past-their-prime opponents, which may be lucrative for both sides, and may have entertainment value, but don’t reveal how he stacks up against currently ranked boxers and therefore are not a good look for the sport,” Morgan posted to X.
“I did not intend to suggest that the outcome was predetermined and certainly didn’t mean to suggest anything illegal. But if reports are correct that Jake is now in negotiations to fight Anthony Joshua, that would obviously be a seriously credible bout against one of the best heavyweights in the world.”
He also invited Paul to join him on his show — something that didn’t end well in the past.
“Jake is welcome to come on Uncensored to discuss this, and verbally slug it out with me, anytime.”
Morgan deleted his initial post, while also reposting news stories about his statement and pointing out that he neither “retracted” nor apologized for it.
However, Paul relished the host’s statement, calling Morgan a “peasant” in a post on Instagram.
“Omg the first peasant that I sue gets on his knees and apologizes – who am I suing next for lying on my name?” Paul wrote Saturday on his Instagram Stories.
“If anyone says my fights are staged you will be sued and secondly you’re a jealous a** peasant who cannot even believe how good I am at this sport and you should go to church to fix your insecurities,” Paul continued. “I pray for you because I have so much love humanity and that includes the people who are against me – genuinely I pray for you and I want the world to be in a better place. You people are filled with a disease and I’m here to help you cure it.”
Morgan countered right back at the boxer, saying that he was not sued.
“I’m not a peasant, I’m not on my knees, he didn’t sue me, and I didn’t apologize. Other than that, spot on @jakepaul!”
Earlier this month, Paul hired lawyer Alex Spiro, who once represented Elon Musk and Aaron Hernandez, in an effort to “vigorously go after anyone who makes up lies about my boxing career.”
Paul, who sports a professional record of 12-1 in the ring, often has been called out for fighting past-their-prime former stars and former UFC stars fighters. Last November, he defeated 58-year-old Mike Tyson by decision in a bout where the former heavyweight champion looked exhausted.
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