Jake Paul just had his second loss of his career and his first knockout loss at the hands of one of this generation’s greatest heavyweight boxers in Anthony Joshua. The “Problem Child” in Paul is one of the most famous boxers in the world; however, it is not necessarily due to his skill in the ring. The former YouTuber and Disney actor-turned-boxer uses his outrageous antics and personality to gain attention for every fight he announces. He has won against NBA legend Nate Robinson, all-time MMA great Anderson Silva, and Mike Tyson. A list of names that you will never see any boxer have on their record.
Paul might be one of the most controversial figures in sports because, for a self-proclaimed boxer, he has not fought many boxers. His record is filled with retired MMA fighters, most of whom were never even known for their striking. As of recent, he has been collecting more pure boxers to his resume, but a lot of them are newer to the sport and not on the same level. Paul, to his credit, does have good technique and movement with an understanding of the fundamentals of boxing. The problem is that people don’t tune in for the fight itself; it is the spectacle. No one wanted to tune in for his fight against a 59-year-old Mike Tyson because they thought it would be a brawl. It is the theatrics of the current state of the sport that allows the viewership to be so high for a Jake Paul fight.
Paul’s fight against Mike Tyson had more than 60 million global viewers, and his most recent bout with Anthony Joshua had 33 million viewers. Critics say that Paul is ruining the sport of boxing and that his skills are not good enough to compete with all-time greats, but he still gets the fights nonetheless. For many, the sport is becoming more about the theatrics than the actual fighting. While there is a point there, the viewership and money that Jake Paul is bringing to boxing cannot be ignored. Both Joshua and Paul made around $93 million. These are numbers that Floyd Mayweather was making in his prime, and he is the highest-paid boxer of all time. It is staggering the number of views and the compensation that Paul is bringing to the sport. Also, for anyone who fights on the main card or undercard, they are being seen by millions of people and being paid well. This helps create exposure for younger boxers trying to make names for themselves.
Even with Paul’s recent knockout loss he still came out a winner with the world watching and a hefty paycheck. Many people wanted to see him lose and he embraces the villain role perfectly. He also likely gained a lot of respect for even stepping into the ring with someone like Anthony Joshua who is one of the scariest punches on the planet. Although, his stock may have taken a hit as he stalled for most of the fight and didn’t throw much of anything in the first couple rounds.
Jake Paul has single handedly shifted the narrative of boxing it seems. With marketing and promotion leading the cause and not the skills themselves. In some minds, boxing is declining, with less quality fights and only a few big names fighting every year. To others however, the viewership is astonishing and tens of millions of people are tuning in. It is not fair to say that Jake Paul has ruined the sport when he pulls in the numbers that he does. But he has changed the way that boxing is promoted, marketed, and seen by fans all over the world.
