If there’s anyone who knows how to grab headlines, it’s definitely Jake Paul! From his social media-turned-boxing career ruffling the wrong feathers, to him beating 58-year-old Mike Tyson, Paul’s brush with fame has always been laced with controversy. And then there’s the fact that the boxing community has had quite the reservation to accept him as their own. “He’s an influencer boxer,” they said. “He’s in it just for the money.” Well, not anymore.
In an Instagram post on November 28, the star’s boxing promotion company, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) killed two birds with one stone…
Jake’s fellow influencer and boxer, Ali Loui Al-Fakhri aka AnEson Gib, was fresh off of another high in his boxing career—he beat Slim Albaher (76-76, 78-74, 79-73) on Thursday in the Misfits Boxing 19 Supercard in Qatar, to become the Misfits middleweight champion. Immediately after, he made a bold statement, saying, “From meme to the best; I’m the best fighter in influencer boxing. I’ve taken out three promotions and I’m happy to be the Misfits champion,” prompting Paul to do what he does best.
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Within a few hours, a post appeared on MVP’s official page, complete with a medley of The Problem Child’s glorious moments inside the ring. Contentiously, the first two photos were from his clash with Gib back in 2020, where the former Disney star had won via technical knockout in the 1st round within just three minutes. Notably, that was Gib’s only loss in his professional career spanning eight bouts. “You all said this was my best competitor and I silenced him in one round. I didn’t even get to showcase my boxing ability,” Jake had said after his win. And four years later, he’s at it again, aiming to remind the Brit who’s the best.
“Flashback Friday to when Jake Paul was an influencer boxer. 2 fights, 2-0, 2KOs. The best there was, is and ever will be,” the post read, while officially confirming Paul’s status. “Jake Paul is RETIRED from that sport. They need him, he doesn’t need them…hence why they said his name 400 times this past week. Gib is the current best in that sport.”
For the unversed, Paul’s influencer boxing career had unofficially ended in 2020 after just two fights. After his win against Gib, the 27-year-old had beaten professional NBA player-turned-boxer Nate Robinson that same year with a second-round knockout. While Jake had never come out and confirmed anything directly, it was a long time coming.
In September this year, he had talked about the dilapidated state of influencer boxing in a conversation with Mail Sport, saying, “Honestly, the other fighters aren’t improving, and I think people are tired of seeing the s***** punches and it just looks sloppy. Now that they’re fans of the sport, I think they want to see like, more real, higher level skill. So it’s definitely dying out.”
For the unversed, Jake Paul began his boxing career in 2018 with influencer boxing when he first stepped into the ring against fellow YouTuber Deji Olatunji. Their rivalry, fueled by verbal jabs, led to a boxing match in Manchester, sanctioned by the British Boxing Board of Control, where the Ohio native emerged victorious with a 5th-round stoppage.
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In various forms of boxing, influencer boxing is quite distinct from professional boxing, as it doesn’t require the same skill level—fame is the key, something social media personalities easily possess. Despite some fans arguing that influencer boxing can’t be officially sanctioned, both of Jake Paul’s influencer bouts received official sanctioning. As ‘The Problem Child’ closes this chapter of his career, all attention is now on his potential fight with Canelo Alvarez. However, Dana White has recently delivered a harsh reality check, casting doubt on the feasibility of such a matchup.
Dana White on Jake Paul vs. Canelo AlvarezDana White has repeatedly criticized Jake Paul for his choice of opponents, asserting that ‘The Problem Child’ isn’t a legitimate boxer. In response, Jake Paul has targeted the UFC boss, especially over his stance on UFC fighters’ pay. The tension between the two has intensified over time, with both exchanging verbal barbs. The rivalry reached a boiling point after UFC 306 when Paul accused the head honcho of banning him from attending UFC events, which led the Ohio native to adopt a more combative persona. However, the UFC boss swiftly dismissed the accusation, showing little interest in further engaging with Jake Paul and allowing the issue to fade without resolution.
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Recently, Dana White weighed in on the potential Jake Paul vs. Canelo Alvarez fight, dismissing the idea of a ‘The Problem Child’ victory should the two ever square off. In a candid interview with Shannon Sharpe, White stated, “People talk s*** and say whatever they want, but look, Canelo is still the man. He gets in there and goes to work, and it’s hard to stay at that level for so long. What’s he making, $40 million a fight? It would be a f***ing 30-second payday for Canelo. I don’t know why Canelo wouldn’t do it.”
What do you think of Jake Paul’s decision to retire from ‘influencer’ boxing? Is this his way of proving to critics that he’s maturing and will now focus solely on serious professional matchups? Share your thoughts below.
Source : EssentiallySports