The 27-year-old American won this Friday the boxing fight that he himself had called against the legend of the discipline.
An additional step in the quest for recognition for the man who made his fortune on YouTube thanks to school videos filmed with his older brother Logan.
His strong business acumen has allowed him to pocket more than $13 million this year alone.
Gazing towards the camera, he proudly displays his right biceps. Jake Paul is around ten years old in this photo shared on Instagram a few hours before the fight of his life. “No one ever had to believe in you because all they needed was you. Tonight we show the world what we're made of. Tonight we show everyone else that everything what it takes is a dream, a belief and an unwavering commitment.”he wrote, addressing the child he was. The 27-year-old content creator made his childhood dream come true by facing Mike Tyson, 31 years his senior, in the ring in Arlington, Texas, this Friday, October 15.
Better still, Jake Paul won against the boxing legend after eight two-minute rounds. A victory sealed by a bow, performed as a sign of respect after the fight. “I admire him, he inspires me. We wouldn’t be here without him today. This man is an icon, it’s just an honor to be able to fight against him”he declared after this match which he initiated. His challenge to the former heavyweight world champion was widely reported thanks to his large online community. It was on the late Vine and then YouTube that the American built his enormous popularity.
With his older brother Logan, he multiplies the school videos which garner views. Enough to attract the attention of Disney Channel, of which he became one of the faces two years later. Ohio native lands role on series Frankie & Paige which also sees the first steps of Olivia Rodrigo, future superstar of American pop-rock. Fired without notice after an incident with journalists, he redoubled his efforts on the creation of content that does not fly very high, based on jumps in a swimming pool or feats on two wheels. The boxing bug hit him in 2018. He and his brother faced British YouTubers then it was solo that he knocked out his opponents.
I like criticism, it is necessary, I thrive on it
Jake Paul
In 2020, he took over former NBA player Nate Robinson, then former MMA specialists. The following year, he launched a fight that smacked of staging with Floyd Mayweather Jr., before the latter's exhibition fight against his brother Logan. He lost on points in 2023 to Tommy Fury, reality TV star and half-brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. Then comes this fight against the “GOAT” as he called it, “the greatest of all time”, “the best of all time”. Jake Paul convinces Netflix to follow him to broadcast their confrontation live. “When I beat Mike Tyson, it won’t change anything, people will never give me credit”he explains in a Netflix documentary.
“Maybe with the world turned upside down, Logan Paul will become president one day. There's a better chance of that happening than Jake becoming a great boxer.”taclait The Guardian (new window) on the eve of this highly publicized fight. “I like criticism, it is necessary, I feed off itreplies the main person concerned. But it's weird because more and more people like me, it's confusing. It's good, because I'm convinced that I'm a good person.”assures Jake Paul who surfs on his image of “bad boy” after having suffered from it for a long time. He and his brother are used to controversies.
The eldest went to Japan to film the corpses of people who had hanged themselves in a forest before saying he wanted to “becoming gay”. The second organized a huge party in his Californian villa in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. A few months later, his home was raided by the FBI who seized firearms after the YouTuber appeared on a video in a shopping center vandalized in Arizona during anti-racist protests. Accused of illegal trespass and prohibited assembly, he eventually apologized, but denied having committed any wrongdoing. Ditto in 2023, when he agrees to pay $101,887 in reimbursement and a fine to the policeman of the American markets who was pursuing him for having advertised cryptocurrencies without having revealed that he was paid to do so.
Pro-Trump et anti-hater
Forbes (new window)ranks him as the 13th richest content creator in 2024, with $13.6 million in year-to-date earnings. Far from YouTube, Jake Paul created a sports betting site but above all a fight promotion company with Nakisa Bidarian. MVP, Most Valuable Promotions, counts among its ranks the Puerto Rican Amanda Serrano, one of the best boxers in the world. His goal? “Change boxing”. Jake Paul conducts his prolific business from Puerto Rico, where he lives with Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam, multiple world champion and Olympic runner-up in 2022.
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This summer, he pretended to box with his favorite in the American presidential election. “We need Trump to knock out all his opponents on Election Day to save America from further unnecessary wars, the woke agenda, and to preserve free speech.”he insisted. As much adored as hated, the American with 20 million subscribers on YouTube and 27 million on Instagram even capitalizes on the hatred he arouses.
For 9 dollars, his fans can treat themselves to a “hater spray” with his name on it. “You don't just cover up smells – you cover up everyone's doubts, noises and unwanted opinions. This spray smells of unflappable confidence, with hints of 'keep moving' and lots of 'I don't 'I've got nothing to worry about' All it takes is one spritz and you're ready for the day, beaming with confidence so thick it's practically untouchable.”he promises. Like a desire to quote Michel Audiard…
