After Andre August, Jake Paul brings another unknown pugilist into the limelight! ‘The Problem Child’ will enter the ring next year on March 9 against an undisclosed opponent. However, he might have just dropped a hint at who that fighter could be. The YouTuber turned boxer turned to social media to express an interest in fighting Neeraj Goyat from India. 

The Indian fighter called out Paul on Instagram previously through a post. “I challenge @jakepaul for a fight…let’s make it happen,” wrote Goyat alongside a clip of him laying out the challenge. However, things quickly accelerated when ‘The Problem Child’ responded to the callout in the comments of the post and later in his Instagram story. “Please make this fight happen @mostvalueablepromotions,” Paul wrote. Even ‘Most Valuable Promotions’ got involved, writing, “We have reached out to start discussions.” Whether Goyat will be Paul’s next opponent is uncertain, but many are eager to learn more about the potential opponent that Jake might choose to go up against.

Neeraj Goyat potential next opponent for Jake Paul

Born in the small village of Karnal, Haryana, a state in India, Goyat’s tango with boxing began at the age of 15 when he was in the Army sports institute attending school. Just the very next year, in 2007, the ‘Gangster’ participated in the junior national tournament and managed to secure a bronze medal. A year later, the Chandigarh resident upgraded to a gold medal in the Youth National Tournament, alongside winning the title of “India’s most promising boxer.” Later, in November 2011, Goyat made his professional boxing debut against China’s Gou Wen Dong but could not secure a win.

However, the 32-year-old became the first Indian pro-fighter to win a bronze medal in the 2016 Summer Olympics after being qualified in Venezuela. In the following year, WBC Asia honored him with ‘Honorary Boxer of the Year.’ If that wasn’t enough, he is also the first Indian fighter to have featured in WBC World Rankings in 2017. More recently, the Welterweight fighter represented India at the WBC convention in Uzbekistan. The event saw the likes of Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Oleksandr Usyk, and Julio Cesar Chavez in attendance.

Get the EssentiallySports Daily Newsletter. Stay ahead of the game with daily updates, exclusive stories, expert takes, and the biggest moments from the world's most popular sports.

Goyat’s professional boxing record

As of right now, Goyat holds a record of 18-4-2, with eight of the eighteen wins coming by the way of knockouts. He last entered the ring against Thailand’s Phakorn Aiemyod, winning the fight via second-round stoppage. However, Goyat’s most challenging opponent was Jose Zepeda, whom he faced in March earlier this year. Zepeda, with a record of 36-2–0, took home the win via unanimous decision. 

Family background and film debut 

Not much is known about Goyat’s family or relationship status, as the boxer keeps the people in his life private. Nevertheless, he has been spotted with several Bollywood A-listers and has even been featured in a widely popular movie in India and abroad. He popularly appeared in the South Indian film ‘RRR,’ and more recently, he appeared in a sports drama called ‘Ghani.’

Also Read: “The Floor Is Already Sold Out”: Jake Paul and Amanda Serrano Hype Up Their March 2024 Bout in Puerto Rico

If and when the potential fight is confirmed, more information will emerge about the boxer. Would you watch the fight if it does happen? Do you think Goyat stands a chance against Jake Paul? 

Watch This Story: Jake Paul Sends Fight Offer To KSI But With A Catch