Is YouTube star turned-boxer Jake Paul actually good for boxing? When it comes to numbers, there’s no denying the impact ‘The Problem Child’ has had on the sport—even if purists argue against his place in the ring with every fiber of their being. His journey to the top started in August 2018 when Jake Paul made his boxing debut against fellow influencer Deji Olatunji.
Fast forward to 2025, whether you love him or hate him, he’s one of the biggest names in the sport at the moment. Just last year, Paul set the boxing world ablaze with his blockbuster fight against legendary heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in Arlington, Texas. Broadcast live on Netflix, the event shattered records, drawing an unprecedented 60 million concurrent households and reaching a peak viewership of 108 million—the highest ever for a boxing match.
Yes, the fight itself was lackluster, and 58-year-old Tyson’s age showed its effects on his body. Despite that, boxing benefited from that event. However, that doesn’t mean everyone is happy about the fight. Take former five-division champion Floyd Mayweather, for example. A few weeks ago, while on the ‘The Tonight Show’ starring Jimmy Fallon, when asked about the fight, the 50-0 legend replied, “When you are watching boxing for free, you can have millions and millions and hundreds of millions of views.” Then again, while chatting with US Weekly a few days ago, the 48-year-old didn’t have anything nice to say about the bout.
“Mike Tyson was a 60-year-old man. He’s an old man. Mike Tyson is enjoying his life. It is what it is,” Floyd, who fought Jake Paul’s brother Logan Paul in June 2021 in Florida, said during the interview. However, he seemed to admire Jake and Logan’s hustle. “One thing about Jake Paul and Logan Paul, we can’t knock their hustle. I take my hat off. I like how they hustle.” While ‘Money’ Mayweather might not have great things to say about the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight, David Benavidez has a different opinion on the matter.
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“I don’t have a problem with anything he is doing,” David Benavidez told Fight Hub TV. “Because he promotes himself very well, he’s giving these fighters that were making no money a chance to eat and they are making millions of dollars and a big stage to perform on.”
“At the end of the day, people just gotta see that. He brought 60 million viewers on Netflix. That’s never been done in anything in boxing. The more eyes he brings to the sport, the better,” Benavidez added. He also highlighted that most boxers grew up in tough conditions, but Paul’s affiliation with Disney can only help bring more eyes to the sport.
In the meantime, the 28-year-old might just have found himself an opponent.
This former rival wants revenge on Jake Paul
Earlier this year, reports emerged suggesting Jake Paul may fight super middleweight king Canelo Alvarez. However, the Mexican superstar played Paul for a fool to sign a four-fight deal with the architect of the Riyadh Season, Turki Alalshikh. This has left ‘El Gallo’ with a lack of options for his next fight. However, bare-knuckle champion Mike Perry has once again stepped up as a potential opponent.
Perry and Paul fought in July of last year after Tyson had to pull out of their initial date due to health concerns. Regardless, Perry seems eager to avenge his loss to Paul in a rematch. “I’ve had my face rearranged in fights, and I’ve had headaches after fights, and I didn’t have that after the Jake Paul fight,” he told talkSport.
December 3, 2022, ORLANDO, FL, ORLANDO, FL, United States: ORLANDO, FL – December 3: Mike Perry in attendance at Amway Center for UFC Orlando – Thompson vs Holland : Evevnt on December 3, 2022 in ORLANDO, FL, United States. ORLANDO, FL United States – ZUMAp175 20221203_zsa_p175_111 Copyright: xLouisxGrassex
“I never really feel a punch until later, but I’ll tell you, he did catch my rib [at] the beginning of the fight,” Perry added. “My rib may have already been in trouble, stepping in… I got in the ring, and the first thing Jake did was hit that rib, and then I had trouble getting up for the next four weeks.” While he refused to discredit Paul’s win, Perry blamed his injury for his performance.
“I got three-and-a-half weeks to prepare for that fight. I would definitely take a different approach [if] I got another shot,” Perry continued. “That’s a fight I’m still interested in. I just need a chance to get back in the ring and prove myself.”
Having said that, it appears different people have drastically different views of the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight. David Benavidez, for one, believes Paul’s involvement in boxing can only do good things for the sport. Do you agree with him?
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