The Jerry Springer Show: Logan Paul, Dillon Danis full of antics before boxing showdown

The buildup for the boxing match between Logan Paul and Dillon Danis on Saturday in England has looked like a replay of "The Jerry Springer Show".

Start with Danis striking Paul in the head with a microphone Thursday during a melee at the end of a pre-fight press conference. Paul was bloodied but later suggested on X, formerly Twitter, that he would fight.

At a previous press conference, Paul hurled birthday cake at Danis. And Danis disdainfully picked up bottles of Prime Hydration, a sports energy drink company co-owned by Paul, and tossed them into the crowd.

That was the tasteful behavior as Paul, the 28-year-old YouTube celebrity, and Danis, the 30-year-old MMA fighter, geared up for their bout scheduled for six rounds at AO Arena in Manchester, England, and available on pay-per-view for $54.99 on DAZN. (They’ll have to weigh in at no more than 195 pounds.)

Nina Agdal, Paul’s fiancée, filed a lawsuit last month accusing Danis of “a relentless, ongoing campaign of cyber harassment and bullying against her” that included “unlawfully posting nonconsensual, sexually explicit photographs of her on the internet without her consent.”

But Danis has continued to disparage Paul’s fianceé.

“You’ve resorted to attacking a woman as your fight tactic?’’ Paul asked Danis at a press conference.  “No wonder you’re friends with Conor McGregor.’’

McGregor, the UFC champion who has faced allegations of sexual assault four times but not been convicted, is expected to be in Danis’ corner Saturday. Paul’s younger brother, Jake, figures to be close to the action, too.

“A vicious KO,’’ Danis has predicted of the fight, adding, “Jake runs in there, I’m going to knock him out, too.’’

How good are Logan Paul and Dillon Danis in the ring?

Logan Paul is less experienced and accomplished than his brother, Jake, who has a record of 7-1 with four knockouts as a pro boxer. But Logan survived eight rounds with Floyd Mayweather Jr. during his last fight, on June 6, 2021.

Paul clocked Mayweather early in the fight before the Hall-of-Famer regained control despite being six inches shorter and more than 30 pounds lighter.

In his only previous bouts, Paul fought social media influencer KSI to a majority draw in 2018 and lost the rematch the next year by split decision. (KSI will fight Tommy Fury in the co-main event Saturday.)

Danis is undefeated in mixed martial arts. Which is slightly less impressive when you consider he’s had only two pro fights. In two Bellator bouts, he scored first-round victories – by toe hold against Kyle Walker in 2018 and by armbar against Max Humphreys in 2019.

Thus began a layoff set to end Saturday night.

In August, McGregor indicated he would be working with Danis. But this week Danis said he has no coach and doesn’t need one.

Predictions for the Logan Paul-Dillon Danis fight

Paul is considered a heavy favorite. FanDuel Sportsbook sets his line at minus-580 (meaning bettors will have to wager $580 to win $100).

“I don’t see it going past two rounds,’’ Paul said, adding, “We haven’t seen Dillon throw a punch. As far as we know, he’s not even a real fighter.’’

FanDuel sets the line for Danis plus-450 (meaning bettors would win $450 for every $100 wagered.) But Danis sounds unphased by the oddsmakers.

“I think he quits on the stool,’’ he said of Paul. “His corner throws in the towel. He’s a weak man, I’m going to break him.’’

Vlad Panin, one of Logan Paul’s sparring partners before the Mayweather fight, said he expects it to be a lopsided affair.

“Honestly, I anticipate Logan will blow him out of the water,’’ Panin told USA TODAY Sports. “I mean, if he doesn’t he should never box again.

“Dillon has done a good job to promote the event, but I don’t see him putting up much of a fight.’’

What could go wrong?

In January, less than two weeks before Danis was scheduled to fight KSI, he pulled out of the fight.

“Mr. Danis has made quite a few excuses,’’ KSI’s manager, Mams Taylor, told reporters at the time. The excuses included the rehydration clause in the fight contract, according to Taylor.

Danis, recently asked about pulling out of that night, said, “It was a lose-lose for everybody, ‘cause beating him, it was like, who cares, you know what I mean? I don’t really care about fighting him at all. I think me and the Pauls have had a lot of history and there’s a lot of, I don’t know, more storyline.’’

Twice he has threatened to pull out of the fight. But there he was Thursday for the final pre-fight press conference.

“Congratulations, Dillon,’’ Paul said. “Yeah, you showed up to a fight, bro. Good for you, buddy.’’

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Logan Paul, Dillon Danis turn pre-fight buildup into three-ring circus