By: Sean Crose
Now that Jake Paul has gone ahead and beat a legit opponent – yes, Anderson Silva is still legal, despite being 47 – it’s time to take an objective look at the boxer dubbed “The Problem Child” . First of all, Paul is just a boxer – and he should be seen as such by the boxing community. Not an elite fighter, not a fighter set to win world titles, but a dynamic and exciting fighter, one who is growing in skill and possesses a high level of skill. impressive strength. Paul is also a great performer and a pleasure to watch in action.
That is a good news. The bad news is that Paul may be taking some good wind out of the boxing world. However, whose favorite is it? Let’s face it, there’s not much atmosphere in the world of boxing starting right now. The big fights are happening and the fighters themselves sometimes get bored with the idea of facing big-name competition (Does Devin Haney really seem excited that he’s likely going to take on big-name competition? against Vasyl Lomachenko in an undisputed lightweight title match?). Until recently, 2022 was a good year for the sport. However, for now, it’s a wasteland. That may be an exaggeration, but one can understand why someone would tend to exaggerate. What guarantees the great war is going on?
So yes, Paul certainly fills the void with his willingness to challenge himself, his dedication to the boxing profession, and his unique ability to fuel a fight. The truth, however, is that Paul could be spending a huge amount of time in the ring over the next few years fighting men tailored for him – MMA stars who have grown old. MMA is a legal and highly demanded sport, and organizations like the UFC pride themselves on providing engaging fights.
What it does mean, however, is that in this particular case Paul can hunt down the older, popular mixed martial artists who are more inclined to engage in a brawl than try to beat him. ta – all while using only a few techniques that they used to use in the octagon. For Paul, it’s a recipe for a knockout win after a knockout win.
We still don’t know how Paul will do against someone proficient in the footwork and precise punch that are hallmarks of good boxing. While real boxing and MMA are similar – they are similar to how American rugby is to Rugby. In short, they are two completely different industries.
But Paul is not to blame for the steady diets of the older UFC guys. He wants to fight professional boxers. He SIGNED to fight professional boxers. And, in the end, they proved unable or unwilling to share the ring with him. By the way, we’re not talking about elite level fighters. We’re talking about fighters at or slightly above Paul’s level, perhaps not well known, but recognizable enough to yield pay-per-view numbers. Guys like Tommy Fury and Hasim Rahman Jr, who were supposed to fight Paul, but never made it to the opening ring.
Key point? It’s okay for serious fans not to be entirely thrilled with the rise of Jake Paul – but it’s not okay to say that the boxing problem lies with him. Hey, at least he’s having an interesting fight. Not good fights but interesting ones. And sometimes that’s all you need… .for a while.
