Joe Rogan, unlike most people in the combat sports world, has always backed Jake Paul. When the former Disney star and social media influencer decided to take the unprecedented leap and embark on a boxing career, no one knew he would turn out to be a pioneer and establish celebrity boxing as a viable genre of combat sports.

Managing to do what even most boxing champions cannot, ‘The Problem Child’ has sold millions of PPVs and made tens of millions in purses for his fights, despite fighting retired athletes and former mixed martial artists as well as a few celebrity boxers. And while Paul is not a popular commodity among fight fans, who charge him with not being a ‘real’ fighter, Joe Rogan completely disagrees.

Joe Rogan feels Jake Paul not given a fair shake by fight fans

Joe Rogan was joined by stand-up comedian and ‘The Irishman’ star Sebastian Maniscalco on his podcast, where the duo discussed Paul’s boxing prowess ahead of his July 20 fight against Mike Tyson. On being asked if Paul was, in fact, a legitimate boxer, Joe Rogan told his guest: “A legitimate boxer, yes.”

Rogan recounted to Maniscalco that “people mocked me when I was saying that before,” but felt that “people are coming around” to his way of thinking about Paul’s continuing successes in the boxing world.

The UFC commentator stated that Jake Paul’s background in entertainment had soured some fight fans, potentially clouding their judgment of his actual boxing ability. “And the way I look at it, I say if this kid was not a YouTuber, if he wasn’t some guy that you knew from the time he was like 16 years old on YouTube. And you just saw him box, and you saw him knock out former UFC champions you saw him beat legitimate boxers or beat athletes and beat a bunch of MMA fighters you’d go ‘This kid can fight’,” the 56-year-old said.

Rogan was very complimentary of the Ohio native’s technique and felt that he would be seen very differently if he was just another up-and-coming boxing prospect. “He knows how to fight. Like nothing he’s doing looks wrong. He’s not like sticking his head straight up in the air and winging punches with his eyes closed. He’s fighting well, he looks good. And if he was just an up-and-coming boxer that was this exciting like highly promotable like really good at selling fights he’d be like this kid’s the future he’s really something special,” he added.

And unlike most people, Joe Rogan thinks the fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson will actually be a competitive one.

Rogan feels Tyson may be too big and too good for Paul

Jake Paul is almost thirty years younger than Mike Tyson, who, at 57, is gearing up for his pro fight after hanging up his gloves nearly two decades ago in 2005. Paul looks to be in the spring of his youth and fighting prowess, coming off three victories last year alone. And he will fight ‘Iron Mike’ who has been known to use the wheelchair on occasion, because of the serious mobility issues he faces due to his bad knees. This, of course, is just one of the bevy of health issues that Tyson suffers from.

This, predictably has not gone down well with many fight fans, who have criticized the bout as a mere spectacle since they are sure that Mike Tyson will not be competitive against Paul, who has every advantage, at least on paper.

However, some, including Joe Rogan feel that Tyson’s natural speed advantage along with his nightmarish power and world-champion-level skills may be enough to get the former Disney star out of the ring quickly, which, ‘Iron Mike’ is indeed more than capable of doing, even at 57.