What does it take to become the poster child of any sport? Years of dedication? Unparalleled success? Or fame and influence over the masses? As far as Jake Paul is concerned, the last one is enough to boast such a status! In a recent pinch, the YouTuber turned boxer sidestepped Canelo Alvarez, Gervonta Davis, and Conor McGregor to declare he is the face of MMA and boxing.
There’s no denying that ‘The Problem Child’ has taken hold over the boxing community by producing exciting matchups. For instance, his upcoming July 12 bout against legendary Mike Tyson in AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, is all the talk in the world. However, the YouTuber hasn’t even fought a single MMA bout. So, it begs the question, what’s the basis for his exaggerated claims?
Views and clicks are everything to Jake Paul
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One would think that the pay-per-view buys or gate revenue from his fights would be the basis of his conclusion. However, the Cleveland native has a completely different reason for proclaiming himself the face of the combat world. Turning to Instagram earlier today, the 9-1 boxer shared the number of views his clips on social media surrounding his fights have received.
Whether it is the clip promoting the Tyson-Paul fight or his face-off against various opponents, Paul believes collecting enormous amounts of views trumps Davis, Canelo, and McGregor’s pull in the industry. He wrote, “Wait, who is the face of boxing and MMA,” while tagging the three fighters. However, it is vital to note that despite collecting such high numbers on social media, none of Paul’s fights have come close to the success Davis, Canelo, and McGregor’s fights have achieved.
Not long ago, someone else claimed they were the face of boxing, albeit the title fits their work a lot more compared to Jake Paul.
Floyd Mayweather claims he is the face of boxing!
Floyd Mayweather has achieved everything boxers dream about and more! Whether it’s becoming a multi-weight division champion or exiting the sport with their zero intact. Despite retiring from the sport, he has an enormous pull in the industry, which is the main reason behind all the successful exhibition fights.
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While appearing in The Pivot Podcast last month, ‘Money’ Mayweather revealed he is still the face of boxing. “I’m really still the face of boxing. I’m appreciative for guys like Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, and Sugar Ray Leonard – so many guys who paved the way for me. But there’s only one Floyd Mayweather. These fighters are not better than me.”
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With that said, despite not having a single world title to his name, Jake Paul has convinced himself that he is the face of the combat world. However, it’s really up to the people to decide who holds the title. So, let us know in the comments – who do you think is the current face of boxing?
Read More: WATCH: Jake Paul Guarantees Outworking Mike Tyson, Trains at 6000 Feet With Olympians From Team USA