EXCLUSIVE: Jake Paul claims Conor McGregor underestimated his quality at the start of his career and isn't surprised he's interested in a fight... as he insists he's 'on a different level' to the Irishman and predicts he will fight a 'low level influencer'

Jake Paul believes Conor McGregor underestimated him at the start of his career but now feels he is 'on a different level to the Irishman' - as he prepares for his next fight against Andre August.

Paul has risen up the ranks in boxing by defeating a number of former UFC stars in crossover events - including Nate Diaz, Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley - which he claims has led to White being reluctant to sanction a fight against one of his high-profile fighters.

A fight betwen Paul and McGregor has long been talked about - though the Irishman has been out of the Octagon for more than two years. McGregor is set to face Michael Chandler next, despite a date not being locked down, while Paul fights boxer August on December 15.

Paul's profile is only going up, while questions remain on McGregor's future as his return to the cage continues to be delayed.

When asked if he felt McGregor underestimated him at the beginning of his career, Paul told Mail Sport: 'For sure. I think along with other people. They thought it was mostly talk and the fight wasn't going to back it up. 

'[Ben] Askren, Woodley, Silva, everyone ends up on the canvas and they second guess themselves. He doesn't want that, he's going to stay far away from me. I see a world where he fights a lower level influencer to make some money.'

It comes after McGregor's manager Audie Attar refrused to rule out a fight with Paul, saying: 'I think the challenge with combat sports is looking that far ahead. You never say never.' 

At this point, Paul does not think the McGregor fight will ever come to fruition because he has 'made the UFC look bad' by defeating their legends. 

'I'm not really focused on it just because [McGregor] is not really his own boss,' he added.

'Even if he really wanted it to happen, he's got to ask for his dad Dana's permission and that's just not soemthing that Dana is going to let happen. Look what I've done to the rest of their legends, I'm making the rest of the company look bad. I'm only getting better with my craft and I don't think Conor wants that.'

Jake Paul's last fight saw him comfortably beat Diaz in August via a unanimous decision, while McGregor has fought Diaz twice in the UFC - submitting him once in March 2016 before winning via decision later than year. 

He believes he has shown he is 'on another level' to McGregor, who he feels will end up fighting a 'lower level influencer'. 

'Nate Diaz [was] standing up [against Conor] going blow for blow, meanwhile I dismantled him with ease,' he added. 'He punches like pillows and he was able to hurt Conor. I have no idea how those punches were able to hurt anyone. 

'I'm just on a different level and he's going down and i'm going up. At this point he needs me to make a big money fight. I'm more focused on becoming a world champion in the sport of boxing.'