Exclusive with Shane Mosley: Jake Paul let BJ Flores go so I’m stepping in

Jake Paul should never have fought Tommy Fury but does have the power to knock out Conor McGregor

Speaking to Sporting Post, boxing legend Shane Mosley has revealed that he has stepped in to help train Jake Paul because the YouTube-star-turned-boxer had let go of previous trainer BJ Flores.

The American, who fought the likes of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, also believes Paul should never have fought Tommy Fury but does think he could knock out Conor McGregor.

Tommy was throwing a lot of unusual punches and Jake wasn't ready for that amateur type of style Tommy had. Yes, Tommy dictated the range, but it was more so Jake did not know how to get to him, like cutting off the ring.

Why have you decided to join Jake Paul’s camp?

SM: “I'm now a co-trainer of Jake Paul. I was there for one of his early fights with AnEsonGib, I helped start him off. Then I left him with BJ Flores and now something has happened between Jake and BJ - I think Jake said something like BJ has taken him as far as he could and has let him go. Anyway, I saw the Tommy Fury fight and I texted him and said we need to work on some stuff. Sometimes you miss certain stages in your boxing career.

“He learned very quickly and went straight into sparring with experienced guys. But I think he missed the middle part of his development. So that's what we're working on. I'm coming to help. I'm not the head trainer but the legendary trainer, who knows different things because I've been in there and seen it and done it.

“Tommy was throwing a lot of unusual punches and Jake wasn't ready for that amateur type of style Tommy had. Yes, Tommy dictated the range, but it was more so Jake did not know how to get to him, like cutting off the ring. There are different types of movement he could have done to draw him and to counter that he has not used yet, so we'll teach him different things. So when he fights this type of fight again, that mistake won't happen again, where he gets stuck and does not know what to do. I want him to know everything so he knows what to do.

“He will avenge that defeat to Fury. He's only lacking in experience right now, that's all. He would win if he rematched him next. He's in good hands. With me and the whole team. I believe he's going to improve very fast.”

Jake probably should not have been fighting that night. He wasn't prepared mentally or physically.

What did you think of Paul’s fight against Tommy Fury?

SM: “I think he was sick and under the weather and he went ahead and fought anyway. There was also some mental stuff that was going on with him. It would be very difficult for anyone to go in there and fight considering what was going on for him personally.

“These are not excuses, just facts. Jake probably should not have been fighting that night. He wasn't prepared mentally or physically. It would have been up to him - because I've taken fights I should not have taken - but had I been involved I would have suggested postponing the Fury fight by two or three weeks to let him heal a little bit. Give him another fight with Tommy and I'm sure will do very well.”

Can you transform Paul into a world champion?

SM: “We're trying to transform him into someone that can challenge for a world title or win a title at cruiserweight one day. But he needs to learn the proper stuff, because he started late, like Deontay Wilder.

“He is athletic but we need to mould him into a top fighter. He needs to beat Tommy first, but that's the way we want to go. I want him to really understand what's happening in the ring.”

Could he knock Conor McGregor out?

SM: “I'm not sure he would knock out McGregor because he's a good mover, so he’s more difficult to get to. Jake has the power to knock him out.

“But Conor moves well whereas Nate comes straight to you. Conor we'd have to figure out.”

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