Over the weekend, YouTube sensation Jake Paul knocked out a shapeless Ben Askren and the internet exploded.
Yet regardless of the hype, dominance on social media, or money generated, it was disappointing to see how many people lauded Paul for his boxing skills. That included members of the media.
“Say what you will about Paul, he has power,” tweeted Helwani. “He has fundamentals. There’s no debating this.”
Oh yes there is. All respect to Helwani but he’s wrong. Paul’s KO looked great because Askren didn’t. His KO combo, a jab and awkward cross, landed flush on Askren’s face. But Paul was so overextended that any real fighter would have slipped the punch and delivered a shot that would have crushed his vastly exposed chin or kidneys.
“See, this has to stop. Jake Paul is not some scrub. He’s a pro now,” tweeted Stephen A. Smith.
That’s ridiculous.
Paul digitally ascended his way into the ring without having to prove his worth in pugilism. He had a one-fight amateur career. There were no local fights. He didn’t even take the Adonis Creed route and fight in non-sanctioned matches in Mexico. No, he leveraged his social media following to grab the spotlight and force his way into the ring.
Against Ali Eson Gib, Nate Robinson and the aforementioned Askren.
Two non-fighters and one formerly retired, completely out of shape MMA fighter who is still looking for the devastating flying knee from Jorge Masvidal in July of 2019 that knocked him silly.
And it’s all promoted on a platform that provides more musical performances and alcohol-infused entertainment than actual boxing. (at least up to this point).
Boxing is part entertainment for sure, but it’s primarily an art. It’s a special skill that only those with real talent can turn into a professional career. It takes years to develop a fighter and decades to develop a true professional boxer. The formula for elite status and fortune has never changed. Juniors, amateurs, Olympics (sometimes), and then the pros.
Props to Paul and his brother for being able to finesse their career switch, but they are far from true professional boxers. Real boxing fans can see that. Not this generation of fans who only seek out internet highlights and take to Twitter to play hype man or troll.
No.
I’m talking about the fans who know the sport. Those who can recite the names of ten boxers not named Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson, or Ryan Garcia. They’re all great fighters with names to match for sure, but there are so many others who are worthy of praise and respect.
But that’s not the fault of Triller or the Paul brothers. Not at all. They simply used the tools they’ve developed and mastered to create the hype around their foray into the fight game.
No, this is boxing’s fault for what they’ve done for far too long.
Taking fans for granted.
Boxing Aided Jake Paul’s Rise
How long have we, as fans, clamored for more big fights, only to have the infuriating politics of the sport crush our dreams of super fights?
Mayweather vs. Pacquiao of 2015 would pale in comparison to Mayweather vs. Pacquiao of 2012 or 13. Yes, the money would have been big no matter the fight date, but the quality of the fight would have been much better two to three years sooner.
Errol Spence Jr. vs. Terrence Crawford has had us salivating for the last two years. Yet we’re rewarded with antagonizing hype and round after round of social media fighter trash-talk.
The sport has the opportunity to give us what we want and deserve, particularly in two divisions. In the lightweight division, fights between Teofimo Lopez, Gervonta Davis, Ryan Garcia, and Devin Hayney would dominate both 2021 and 2022. The same is true in the Middleweight/Super Middleweight divisions, where fans are begging for Canelo Alvarez, Caleb Plant, Jermall Charlo, and Demetrius Andrade to square off in the ring.
Instead, we’re given another underwhelming performance by Tony Harrison who fought to a split decision against Bryant Perrella this past weekend. Many, myself included, actually felt that Perrella won.
During the pandemic lockdown last year, ESPN gave us the aforementioned Lopez vs. Vasyl Lomachenko, a fight whose hype was matched by its action. Only football surpassed it as the most exciting sporting event in the COVID-19 shortened year.
To the decision makers in boxing, I implore you. For the sake of us fans, please give us more of those fights.
You have the networks. You have the platforms and you have the roster of fighters.
We have begged for it for years and it’s time to start listening to us. Put the politics aside and give us the big fights with the big names. We’ll support, pay for and watch them.
We’ll forgive you for ignoring us for so long, an act that contributed to the rise of “boxers” like Jake and Logan Paul. We’ll even forgive Floyd Mayweather for (potentially) giving the latter shine for the sake of the almighty dollar.
We deserve better than an out of shape wrestler getting KOed by an aspiring but “no where near ready for the real thing” boxer.
A digital sensation does not deserve to outshine pros in the sport just because he has a large YouTube presence. I understand the money game and capitalizing on his internet success. Based upon some reports, Triller’s fight card this past weekend generated an estimated 1.45 million PPV buys, making it a huge success for all involved, especially Jake Paul. I give him props for what he’s been able to accomplish, but the fighting accolades he’s been bestowed with by both the media and his fans need to be greatly tempered.
“I’m not fighting to make money,” said Paul to Insider last November. “I’m fighting because I want to and I love it.”
Jake Paul loves boxing and that’s cool. He and his brother have brought a new fan base to the sport, and so far it’s working for them.
But Jake Paul is not a real pro boxer. Anyone who thinks otherwise should apologize immediately. But based upon the results from this weekend, his status and talent obviously don’t matter. Paul is a major part of a formula that’s currently working for him, Triller, and their fanbases, so it’s not going to change anytime soon.
So boxing, it’s your move. Will you continue to bicker and enable the rise of more non-qualified pro boxers? Or will you finally give us the big fights with big names that we crave and put real fighters on display for all to see?
Make it happen. Trust me, we’re ready.
