After the farce of a “fight” between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson on Friday night, it’s clear that Jake Paul is a great promoter but not a real boxer.
To his credit, Paul has impressively carved out a lucrative lane for himself in boxing entertainment, something we haven’t witnessed before. He’s also been able to give Amanda Serrano the exposure and payday she’s rightfully deserved for many years. For those two accomplishments, he deserves to be applauded.
But fighting washed-up MMA fighters and an old, tired Mike Tyson who was recovering from a severe illness does not make him a pro boxer, especially when fighting the former champion in a fight that should never have been sanctioned in the first place.
Paul gave fans all the reason they needed to doubt what the fight was afterward when asked whether he let off the gas during the fight.
“Yeah, definitely. Definitely a bit. I wanted to give fans a show, but I didn’t want to hurt someone that didn’t need to be hurt.”
In other words, the fight should never have taken place.
These are reasons why real pro boxers should not be seeking him out for a fight.
Yes, the viewership and payday were huge, but to watch a once lethal Tyson bite his gloves, throw punches that were “just a bit outside,” refrain from throwing his deadly uppercut and look like a shell of himself at the age of 58, was depressing and unfair.
But even more infuriating was seeing professional boxers try to engage Paul for a fight.
Heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois and light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev were among a group of real pro boxers looking for a big payday through a match with Paul.
Two champions calling out the 127th ranked heavyweight in the world is ridiculous and embarrassing.
Paul has reciprocated, particularly in his quest to get Canelo to fight him. He even went as far as saying that Canelo needed him more than he needed Canelo.
Again, Paul’s drawing power deserves to be recognized, especially for capturing the attention of actual world champions. But as a real champion, why would you want Paul on your record?
There is no way he could stand in the ring with these fighters for he lacks talent and real boxing fans know this. Just watch his warm-up in the dressing room before his bout with Tyson and you will understand.
On Tuesday, former champion Andre Ward spoke about Paul with Stephen A. Smith left the door open to a possible bout with Paul.
“I am open for a discussion,” said Ward to Smith. “And, since you like fighting older guys, I’m an older guy. I haven’t touched the ring in seven years so I think it would be interesting.”
What?!
The sentiment coming from the undefeated, 32-0 (16 KOs), S.O.G., multi-division former champion was head shaking. Ward’s Hall of Fame career and legacy in the sport are cemented, so why would he even consider fighting an individual who doesn’t have the talent to be his sparring partner?
Give Ward a few months to prepare and shake off the rust and Paul would be finished before round one was complete.
I understand the big payday, but then again, after the Tyson farce, would anyone purchase a PPV fight with Paul and an actual boxer? Those who can’t stand Paul and wanted to see him get KOed definitely would. But outside of them, a fight with Canelo, Ward, Dubois or Beterbiev would do more for Paul than those men.
Even more infuriatingly, it would make a mockery of pugilism, for allowing a social media star who bum rushed the sport without paying his dues and putting in the time to get into the top 50 at least would be a slap in the face of every real boxer who gave their all to the sport.
So let Paul continue to dominate boxing entertainment with former MMA fighters. It’s been a successful lane for him.
But let real boxers box, for the sport is not a game and if Jake Paul faces real boxers in the ring, his career would be over quickly.
