Jake Paul is a polarizing figure. Known for his antics as a YouTuber, his time as a Disney star, and his even more controversial career as a boxer, Paul has become a lightning rod for both fans and critics alike.
Seven years ago, Joe Weller jumpstarted YouTube boxing—a platform where YouTubers with beef settle things in the ring. Two of the biggest YouTubers in America, Logan Paul and his brother Jake, accepted the challenge of YouTube bigshots from the UK: KSI and his brother, Deji. After winning his fight with Deji, Jake's boxing career took on a life of its own. He elevated the crossover genre, taking on MMA fighters, retired boxers, and even a former NBA player.
The thing is, Jake put in the work and won every single fight, with a few knockouts as the cherry on top. You’d think MMA fighters would have the upper hand in a boxing match against an amateur boxer like Jake, but the reality is that boxing is a whole different art. A world champion MMA fighter would excel in an MMA cage but might struggle in a boxing ring, where the focus is solely on punches. People hate Jake for this. He was hated as a YouTube star, and now, he’s hated even more as a boxer. He carefully selects his opponents, knowing that a boxing match with his name on the card guarantees big money. Critics call him out, demanding he fight a "real boxer."
Jake Paul finally faced a real boxer in Tommy Fury, and for many, it was a defining moment in his career. He suffered his first loss, but rather than retreating, he pressed on, challenging new opponents and fueling the spectacle. His latest fight? With none other than Mike Tyson. While that may sound ridiculous, Jake is actually a marketing genius. Who wouldn’t want to see Mike Tyson fight Jake Paul? People were counting on Tyson to destroy Jake once and for all. The internet exploded with remarks about how Tyson would obliterate Paul, and how the world would finally witness the fall of Jake Paul. Of course, many ignored the fact that Mike Tyson is 58 years old, and his last professional fight was in 2005 (though he did return for an exhibition match in 2020). For context, Jake Paul is 27.
I posted on Facebook, saying it was obvious Jake would win. The reasons were simple: Tyson is 58 and far from his prime. Though he still has knockout power, his age affects his abilities, movements, stamina, and recovery. I’m not a Jake Paul fan, but rooting for him in this fight was a no-brainer. And sure enough, Jake won.
Watching people lose their minds over this was both amusing and frustrating. Initially, everyone was 100% confident Tyson would win. But when Tyson lost, the narrative shifted. Suddenly, people started complaining about his age, claiming it wasn’t a fair fight. The herd mentality on display was unreal. No, it wasn’t a fair fight—but it shouldn’t have been in the first place. The age gap alone warranted scrutiny, and health concerns should have been front and center. How this fight got approved by the sports commission is beyond me.
What’s clear is that both Jake Paul and Mike Tyson made millions of dollars from this fight. It was likely one of the highest-grossing matches in boxing history. But it wasn’t about reputation, honor, or proving anything—it was simply about cashing in by putting on a great show. Unfortunately, the show itself wasn’t even that great. Jake Paul was clearly holding back his punches after realizing how frail his opponent was. It was sad to see Mike Tyson, a legend, hanging on for dear life, taking punches to the head without landing many of his own. His footwork was awkward, and he seemed gassed by the later rounds. But I respect that he held his ground through the 8th round.
Perhaps the takeaway from all this is that legends shouldn’t have to make a comeback, risking their health and reputation in the process. I understand why Tyson did it, but not everyone will see it that way. Both parties knew exactly what they were signing up for. Still, it just didn’t look good—and some would argue that it tainted the sport of boxing as a whole.
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