Will Jake Paul learn from failure?

By: Sean Crose

So Jake Paul is now defeated in the award ring. The young man’s professional record is currently 6-1. Not bad for a newer fighter, but a sign that improvement is needed. In this day and age, where a single loss is considered the death knell of a career, people would inevitably argue that Paul is now over for the awards round. That’s pointless, of course, although he clearly has many ways to go if he wants to truly become a successful boxer. Whether rich and famous Paul decides to make an effort to enhance his skill set remains to be seen.

It is obvious now that Paul, despite his handling of talent, courage, and strength, still has significant limitations. While fighting Tommy Fury – himself without the decorated slugger – Paul looks like a pro boxer. His raw talent has made him very good against former UFC greats, but the UFC differs from boxing in countless ways, mainly in that it’s actually closer to “real fighting” than it is to boxing. Boxing. George Foreman may have taken out Muhamad Ali in a “real fight”. However, the two men met on a ring, and a quick trip to YouTube will show how that match goes.

While boxing at a crude and grueling youth was essentially pure combat, it turned into a specialized – and hugely popular – sport in 1892 when James Corbett, who had never fought bare knuckles, lifting the heavyweight title from boxer John L. Sullivan using things like footwork, defense, and hoop grasp. Since that time, the pure hardliners have basically played a second role to the masters of skill. A skilled fighter can certainly knock an opponent unconscious, but that fighter can also focus on dodging while in the ring. The mentality of the UFC, in which brawls are legal on the sporting level, is not particularly conducive to dodging.

And that’s a good reason why Paul was able to beat the great former UFC fighters: Because he could knock them down… that and the fact that they were basically boxing novices. Oh, and let’s not forget that they’re past their prime even for their own sport.

On Sunday, however, Paul faced Tyson Fury’s younger brother, someone who knew how to avoid him, someone who knew how to stay effective when he couldn’t get into a good position to strike, someone who, unlike like a crossover from the UFC, can focus on the task at hand without having to constantly remind himself that he can’t kick or do a takedown. In other words, Paul faced a boxer dyed in wool. And from the opening bell, it was clear that he was facing someone different from his previous rivals.

It’s not that Paul plays poorly or Fury plays well. Here are two men with less than ten matches on their résumé, who, while seemingly corny, have shown it all in the ring and are entertainment for those who have watched it live in Arabia. Saudi Arabia or elsewhere with pay-per-view. In the end, however, Paul found himself outmatched. People wanted to see what would happen if the man fought a “real boxer” and now they know.

However, remember that the child is not doing anything bad for himself. It’s not that he doesn’t have a job in the ring. It’s simply worth asking how much Paul can improve. And no one will know the answer to that unless the man decides to keep fighting.

Or rather, boxing. After all, there are good differences between the two.