Former WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew has had his say on Jake Paul's recent comments about carrying the sport of boxing — and he didn't mince his words at all.
Speaking on the latest episode of The DAZN Boxing Show, Bellew was quick to label Paul a 'muppet' and wouldn't call the internet star a boxer until he fought someone who specialised in the sweet science.
"First of all, I’ve got no hate or malice towards Jake Paul, crack on, do what you’re doing, it’s great," Bellew said.
"But in no way shape or form can you claim to carry my sport you absolute f—ing muppet, he hasn’t even fought a boxer yet.
"So how can you claim to be carrying the sport when you haven’t fought someone who comes from my sport, it’s unbelievable!
"I don’t like the fact it’s labelled a boxing match because he’s not facing a boxer."
Bellew did however have some advice for 'The Problem Child' on who he should face next if he does want to be considered as a legitimate boxer.
"If he really wants to fight a boxer, I can tell you someone he can face, Anderson Silva.
"Anderson Silva is an MMA guy, so he’s not a traditional boxer, but, he has beaten a boxer and he hasn’t just beaten any boxer, he’s beaten the former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
"Face someone like him then we can listen to you talk about being a boxer, but until you face a boxer you can’t state that you’re a boxer and last thing you need to do is say you’re carrying my sport."