Mike Tyson‘s bout with Jake Paul drew millions of viewers and was billed as one of the biggest sporting spectacles of the year. The hype surrounding the event did capture a global audience and helped the two fighters take home a good paycheck.
That paycheck has come to the interest of LiAngelo Ball. The basketball player was a guest on Unapologetically Angel along with his NBA star brother Lonzo Ball. Host Angel Reese was prodding the younger brother to talk about his past and his future in basketball.
LiAngelo Ball revealed that his past mistakes made it difficult for him to get to the NBA through college. He did talk about trying to get a G-League contract so that he can try to find a way back into a senior team.
But then Reese asked if he was serious about wanting to fight Paul in a boxing match. She asked what the right price for him was to agree to a fight and if he would beat Paul.
I think so, I’m training yeah. $20 million, I’ll go down to $10 million. I don’t need to be fighting for $10 million, I’m tripping, $20 million. If it’s $20 million on the line, I don’t think I’m folding. I’m not getting slept, you can win.
LiAngelo Ball said in reply
Lonzo Ball suggested that $20 million would give him a new career as basketball will be over. But the former Charlotte Hornets player was hesitant to give up. He then suggested that three such fights with $20 million payouts each would be good enough to let go of basketball.
LiAngelo Ball’s basketball career in the doldrums
LiAngelo Ball tried to get to the NBA by committing to the UCLA Bruins. As a three-star recruit, he did not have the best chances of making it to the NBA, but with the right development, he could have at least gone through the 2nd round.
However, that sunglass arrest incident put his dreams on hold as UCLA suspended him indefinitely. Frustrated by the length of the suspension, LiAngelo decided to pull out of the program and try his hand in a different direction.
LiAngelo played overseas and then enrolled for the 2018 NBA Draft. However, no NBA team selected him, and he did not have a choice but to play in his father’s now-defunct Junior Basketball Association. Then, aided by his younger brother LaMelo Ball, he received a chance to try out for the Charlotte Hornets.
LiAngelo was a regular member of their G-League team and even played on the Hornets Summer League team. The 26-year-old lasted for that one season and then had to join a team in Mexico. But a ligament injury forced him out and he is now recovering back at home. He is still trying to get hold of another chance in the G-League.
