The crossover scene is a controversial part of boxing, and Carl Froch has criticised his old promoter, Eddie Hearn, for seemingly fuelling that fire.
Speaking to Casino Alpha, Froch was annoyed by the idea of Jake Paul fighting none other than Wayne Rooney.
It was a subject initially mentioned on the Stick To Football podcast, on which Hearn revealed that the former Manchester United star regularly messages him about boxing.
The promoter joked that he could set up Rooney-Paul at Old Trafford, although Froch believes it to be seriously in the works.
“I don’t know why Eddie Hearn is talking about Jake Paul versus Wayne Rooney, Rooney’s a football manager. I don’t like the way some boxing promoters are going down the route of crossover fights because a former football player versus a YouTuber is a load of rubbish and I don’t get it.
I don’t get why a proper promoter is talking up a match between Wayne Rooney and Jake Paul. But does that tell us something about the state of boxing at the minute? Would Wayne Rooney v Jake Paul be the biggest fight that Eddie Hearn can make at the minute?”
Speaking to Boxing Social, Hearn ribbed Froch before explaining how the situation came about.
“Oh shut up, Carl. Listen, Carl’s my friend, he’s a legend … I go on a football podcast and they ask me if any footballers could fight … and I say Wayne Rooney against Jake Paul. Next thing, that’s all over the internet.
So I’m sorry Carl that that [looks like] me trying to make the fight. Would I make the fight? Maybe. Am I trying to? Absolutely not. I know it’s some soundbites for Froch on Fighting, but no, there is no intent to make Wayne Rooney against Jake Paul.”
He then said that he would expect Froch to jump at the chance of fighting Jake Paul – something ‘The Cobra’ has previously admitted is the case.
“As a slight contradiction to what Carl says, he would jump all over a fight with Jake Paul himself. He would take the money in a heartbeat for that fight.”
Regardless of this British back and forth, Paul seems intent on proving he can make it down boxing’s traditional route. He will fight on December 15 against 10-1 pro, Andre August.