Why are boxing legends and current world champions calling out Jake Paul?
He is being targeted by 'real' boxers
After beating an ancient version of a boxing legend, Jake Paul is on everyone’s hit list.
Most hardcore boxing fans knew that Paul would be too fresh for Mike Tyson, who is 58 years old, has health problems, and hasn’t looked good in the ring since the 1990s.
But fewer predicted the likes of Daniel Dubois and Artur Beterbiev would be calling ‘The Problem Child’ out.
Following a five-round destruction of Anthony Joshua, Dubois is one of the best heavyweights in the world.
After narrowly defeating a fellow pound-for-pound superstar in Dmitry Bivol, Beterbiev is the current undisputed light heavyweight champion.
And yet, two of boxing’s best - the calibre of fighters who would seriously hurt anyone in the influencer scene, have staked their claim for a bout with Paul.
The same Paul who lost to the half-brother of Tyson Fury - Tommy Fury last year, who then went life-and-death with KSI.
And unsurprisingly, former world champions, who have been retired for several years like Carl Froch and Tony Bellew, also want a piece of the action.
Bellew turned up at the final pre-fight press conference for Paul-Tyson, appearing to call Paul a ‘clown.’
Meanwhile, Froch waited for the circus to finish before tweeting Paul his challenge.
When Paul made his ‘professional’ boxing debut in 2020 against Ali Eson Gib, the American was firmly in the celebrity realm.
The expectation was for him to keep milking his following by taking on recognized names, albeit fighting less-than-stellar opposition.
It started with facing a fellow Youtuber and then an ex-NBA star before progressing to former UFC Champions and mixed martial artists, low-level boxing prospects/journeymen, and most recently boxing legends.
However, until this day, Paul has never fought anyone in the top 20 of any sanctioning body.
The 27-year-old has previously stated he wants to become a world champion - a remark scoffed at a few years ago.
But Paul is now edging closer.Â
He doesn’t have the talent or experience to be a world-class boxer. Some say Paul would struggle to win a Southern Area Title in England.
Still, boxing is a business. As someone who can afford the best coaches, facilities, and sparring partners, Paul just needs to continue building his following while gradually improving his boxing skills.
Because, one day, there might be a weak enough champion for Paul to exploit - someone who cannot afford to turn down an astronomical payday.
And it’s this same lucrativeness, which is attracting ‘real’ boxers to call him out.
It doesn’t matter how good you are, an opponent or business partner like Paul will bring eyeballs to the event and make a lot of money.
So it’s not surprising that retired, once-successful boxers want a shot, as in their mind there is little risk and maximal reward.
But the call-out from contemporary title holders is a concern, especially after all the money Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season have invested in making the best fight the best like Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury and Beterbiev vs Bivol.
Here’s a spoiler though.
Jake Paul will not fight Beterbiev or Dubois, as this would be career-ending.
However, it would not be surprising if more boxing legends are recycled, as Paul aims to increase the number of legitimate names on his resume.
