With his victory against Mike Tyson last October, Jake Paul reached a new level of notoriety. Or rather, unpopularity.
Paul has always had his detractors, dating back to his early days on Vine and YouTube. His foray into the world of combat sports has only exacerbated the hatred he generates — MMA fans hate him for targeting fading former champions, while boxing fans vilify him for his role in the infiltration of influencers into their discipline.
Today, the general public is also angry with him for having ridiculed a 58-year-old Mike Tyson. Whether you believe Paul actually defeated Tyson or paid him to lose, you can’t help but disapprove of Jake for flouting the integrity of the sport. This animosity reaching an unprecedented level.
On the latest episode of Saturday Night Live, Chris Rock brought up Paul during his opening monologue.
“Jake Paul beating Mike Tyson, what is this crazy?” Rock said. “Who is this Jake Paul? A 27 year old guy punching a 60 year old man. Is this what the white man has been reduced to? Stop! Who will he fight next? Morgan Freeman?”
“I hate Jake Paul! I have a landlord who hates Jake Paul. I hate him! I hate it like cocaine hates monogamy.”
Rock’s sketch about Jake Paul was interspersed between jokes about Luigi Mangione and Donald Trump, which is pretty impressive considering the Paul vs. Tyson took place a month ago and the news has not been short of events. This story seems to have some longevity, but not in a way that is favorable to Paul.
They say any publicity is good publicity, but if “El Gallo”’s goal was to be taken seriously as a boxer, he may have wasted that victory against Tyson. No matter what he does next, he may forever be known as the man who punched an elderly Tyson.
And it couldn’t happen to someone more deserving. His entire career has been built on taking on aging legends, but he crossed a line with this fight. He may never again be recognized for his boxing abilities, but rather as the punchline of this farce.
In a world where entertainment and sports are increasingly intertwined, Jake Paul’s situation raises broader questions about integrity in boxing. One might wonder about the impact of celebrity on traditional sports and how figures like Paul challenge the perception of competitiveness. While recognizing the spectacle it produces, one can’t help but wonder if it doesn’t work against the very essence of the sport. It is crucial to find a balance between commercial appeal and respect for athletes and their disciplines. This debate will undoubtedly continue to divide opinion, but it is essential to the future of combat sports.
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