FOOTBALL hardman James McClean has been backed by former manager Tony Pulis to beat Jake Paul in a boxing match.
McClean – coached by Pulis at West Brom – has a reputation for his toughness on the field and trains in boxing as a hobby.
RexJames McClean has been backed to beat Jake Paul in a boxing match[/caption]
Times Newspapers LtdTony Pulis coached McClean at West Brom[/caption]
And ex-gaffer Pulis revealed Pulis was the most feared player he worked under and reckons he has the beating of Paul.
He told OLBG: “Nobody, nobody would want to fight James McClean in the boxing ring. I’ve seen him at West Brom.
“He has got the fastest hands of any professional footballer I’ve seen. He was on the bag and on the gloves. James, without question.
“Like I say, I’ve got a lot of time for James. He mishandles himself at times in respect of what he says and what he does.
“But he’s a great, great, great kid. I’ve got a lot of time for him. “I’ve seen him with the gloves on.
“You wouldn’t want to go in a ring against him. Against Jake Paul? McClean all day long.”
McClean, now 36, made 111 Stoke appearances after joining from West Brom following prior stints at Wigan and Sunderland.
He returned to Wigan in 2021 but moved to Wrexham two years later – recently celebrating promotion to the Championship.
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Last season, the left winger scored four goals to help Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney take Wrexham from Non-League to England’s second tier.
McClean – who has 103 Ireland caps with 11 goals – regularly shows off his boxing training under former pro fighter Derry Matthews.
YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul meanwhile is 11-1 in the ring.
His only defeat came on points to Tommy Fury, 25, in 2023 and he most recently beat Mike Tyson, 58, in November.
Paul, 28, now returns on June 28 in a cruiserweight bout against ex-middleweight world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, 39, in California.
The American knocked out former NBA star Nate Robinson in 2020 and has been called out by the likes of darts player Gerwyn Price, 40, before.
GettyJake Paul is 11-1 in the ring[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
