Former NFL star Le'Veon Bell is keeping his boxing aspirations alive, though he has redirected his focus within the Paul family. After a potential bout with Logan Paul was shut down by WWE, Bell has now expressed strong interest in facing Jake Paul instead.
Speaking with TMZ Sports on Wednesday at a Venice Beach event promoting Jake Paul's upcoming Ronda Rousey versus Gina Carano card, Bell made his intentions clear regarding a potential matchup with the younger Paul brother.
"Yeah, I'd fight Jake," Bell stated. "I think Jake would be more of a match [for me]."
The former All-Pro running back demonstrated respect for Jake Paul's contributions to combat sports, particularly his efforts to elevate opportunities for female fighters. Bell acknowledged that Paul is currently recovering from a broken jaw, but remained open to a future encounter once the recovery process is complete.
"Jake, he's still recovering from his broken jaw or whatever. I got nothing but respect for Jake. I think Jake done did everything. This event right here was crazy," Bell said, before adding, "Shout out to Jake. If Jake wants to get in the ring with me when he gets back from recovery, yeah, I'm down. I'm down."
This development comes approximately two months after Bell and Logan Paul engaged in public verbal exchanges, with both fighters expressing confidence they could defeat the other. However, those plans were derailed when WWE reportedly prevented Logan Paul from participating, citing concerns about potential injury to their contracted performer.
While Bell's challenge adds another name to Jake Paul's extensive list of potential opponents, the likelihood of this matchup materializing remains uncertain. Paul has numerous high-profile suitors seeking fights, making any single bout far from guaranteed.
In the immediate future, Bell's attention turns to Saturday night's card at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, streaming on Netflix. The event features Rousey versus Carano as the main attraction, though Bell expressed particular enthusiasm for the Nate Diaz and Mike Perry matchup.
The former running back even suggested those fighters as potential future opponents, declaring before departing, "maybe I'll get them in the ring with me." He concluded with characteristic bravado: "I'm about that smoke!"
Bell's transition from professional football to combat sports represents a growing trend of athletes crossing over into boxing and mixed martial arts. Whether his callout of Jake Paul gains traction remains to be seen, but the former All-Pro has made clear his willingness to step into the ring with high-profile opponents.