Logan Paul has stirred up another wave of controversy and curiosity after issuing a bold $1 million open boxing challenge to current and former NFL players.
Despite drawing responses from several high-profile athletes, the social media star and WWE performer says none have yet agreed to his specific terms, leaving the highly publicized challenge without an official fight.
The YouTuber-turned-boxer initially issued the challenge across social media, daring any NFL player to face him in a boxing match with a $1 million stake from both sides.
The proposal quickly gained traction online, prompting reactions from a range of players including former running back Le’Veon Bell and offensive lineman Kingsley Suamataia.
However, despite the strong responses, no bout has been formally arranged.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Paul claimed the situation has become chaotic behind the scenes. According to him, the challenge sparked widespread attention but few athletes are willing to meet the financial and logistical terms he has laid out.
“They all want to formalize this with a streamer, venue, press conferences, etc. (i.e. get paid to fight but not risk their own money), but I don’t have time nor interest in that,” Paul said.
His proposal involves both fighters depositing $1 million into escrow and competing at his gym in Puerto Rico under official boxing rules, complete with referees and three professional judges.
“They all want to formalize this with a streamer, venue, press conferences, etc. (i.e. get paid to fight but not risk their own money), but I don’t have time nor interest in that,” he continued.
“I won’t step away from WWE to coordinate & train for an event, but if any player wants to actually put up $1M and fight at my gym with official referees and judges, show yourselves (that includes you [Le’Veon Bell].”
NFL players respond to Paul’s controversial offer
While Paul insists that logistical disagreements are preventing the fight from happening, several players have publicly expressed interest in stepping into the ring.
One of the most vocal responses came from Bell, who has already built a modest boxing résumé since stepping away from the NFL.
The former Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets star holds a 2-1 boxing record and last competed in May 2024.
Rather than shy away from the challenge, Bell openly called out Paul and pushed for a more traditional boxing event.
“STOP DUCKING Logan Paul. Bro tryna fight an NFL player that’s never fought before. Let’s set it up bro. We can fight in April, the NFL draft is in Pittsburgh. We can fight NFL draft weekend! Let’s make it happen.”
The challenge has also drawn attention because of Paul‘s escalating feud with legendary quarterback Tom Brady.
Their rivalry has reportedly intensified ahead of the upcoming Fanatics Flag Football Classic, where athletes and celebrities will compete in a high-profile exhibition event.
During his social media rant, Paul made it clear he is not limiting the challenge to just one athlete.
He also mentioned Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett, boldly claiming he would have no problem fighting the dominant defensive end.
The former WWE United States Champion even went further with his comments, saying he would “throttle Myles Garrett” and declaring he would “throw hands with any of you motherf**kers.”
Despite the bravado, the financial and organizational details remain the main obstacle. Many professional athletes appear interested in the spectacle but prefer a fully promoted event, complete with broadcasting rights, sponsorship deals and a formal fight promotion, rather than a private contest.
Meanwhile, Paul continues to balance multiple ventures. In addition to boxing exhibitions, he remains active in professional wrestling with WWE, while also managing business ventures including his PRIME energy drink brand.
For now, the $1 million challenge remains unresolved. Yet the online buzz surrounding it demonstrates once again how Paul has mastered the art of creating viral sports moments, even when the fight itself has yet to materialize.
Read the full article here
