“Paul challenges Jimmy Carter (Age 100) to a boxing match after beating 58-year-old Mike Tyson.” While that may sound like an absurd headline, it’s not a real story. It’s actually a viral meme poking fun at Jake Paul, the YouTuber-turned-boxer who has been the subject of heavy criticism. And it’s easy to understand why. His choice of opponents has left many scratching their heads. In his 12-fight boxing career, ‘El Gallo’ has only faced a fighter close to his age once, and that was the bout he lost (against Tommy Fury two years back).

Most of his bouts have been against older, retired, or veteran fighters, earning him a reputation for cherry-picking opponents to secure easy wins. At one point, Paul even called out UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, a move that many considered desperate and out of touch. Despite his massive following, these decisions have tarnished Paul’s reputation in combat sports. Take his most recent fight: a bout with boxing legend Mike Tyson, who was 58 years old at the time.

Paul won via unanimous decision, but to many fans, it felt like another win against a fighter eons detached from his prime. Before Tyson, Jake defeated names like Tyron Woodley and Anderson Silva, further fueling the perception that the Ohio export targets aging legends for personal gain. One vocal critic has been Michael Bisping, a UFC veteran who hasn’t held back in expressing his disdain for Jake Paul’s approach to matchmaking. After Paul signed the contract to fight Mike Tyson, Bisping publicly called him a “pathetic individual.” And now, Paul is set to face former WBC middleweight champion Julio César Chávez Jr. on June 28 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Chavez Jr. will be turning 40 this year, and the criticism is only intensifying.

In his latest YouTube video, Bisping shared his thoughts without reservation: “That’s why I don’t respect Jake Paul as a fighter. It’s not that I’m jealous of his money or anything like that—there are a lot of people out there who have a lot more money than me, okay? And I’m not jealous of them. Jake Paul isn’t a real fighter. He manufactures the situation for fights and opponents that he knows he can win—like this new one with Julio César Chávez Jr. Okay, the guy’s pushing 40.”

Bisping also dismissed the idea that Chávez Jr. presents a serious challenge, especially when compared to his father’s legendary career Chávez Sr: “He was beaten by Anderson Silva, he’s had problems with substance a–se and stuff like that, I believe, in the past, and he’s got a few losses on his record. He’s almost 40, okay? And he’s not his dad. This is another situation Jake Paul has looked at—it’s calculated. Yeah, he’s got to work hard, yeah, he’s got to train hard, but he probably knows he can beat this guy.”

Bisping’s remarks are just the latest in a long line of veteran voices aiming at Jake Paul. But the YouTuber-turned-boxer seems immune to the noise. While critics talk, Jake keeps cashing in—building a brand that has turned him and his PR team into one of the most effective marketing forces in modern combat sports. In fact, many fans and analysts alike have gone as far as crediting ‘El Gallo’ with revitalizing boxing—an opinion recently echoed by MMA experts during a discussion with EssentiallySports. Let’s dive into what they had to say.

MMA analysts revealed how Jake Paul capitalizes on the hate directed towards him

“There’s no such thing as bad publicity,” American showman P.T. Barnum once claimed. At first glance, the phrase might seem like an overstatement—but when you look at Jake Paul’s whirlwind boxing career, it starts to sound like a perfectly accurate description. Take his latest headline-grabbing bout against 58-year-old legend Mike Tyson. The fight didn’t just trend—it broke the internet, causing Netflix to crash globally. And while critics were quick to scoff at Jake for once again picking an older opponent, the numbers speak for themselves.

Whether it’s UFC icon Nate Diaz or a boxing pioneer like Tyson, Paul continues to draw massive audiences. Say what you will, but he shows no signs of slowing down—and no regrets either. He cashes in, his opponents cash in, and fans, whether they love him or hate him, keep tuning in. Labeled as a sham by hardcore purists, the Ohio native has flipped the script by turning criticism into currency.

In a recent conversation with EssentiallySports, MMA analyst Robin Black explained why Paul’s formula works so well. “If I choose to watch him fight Mike Tyson or anyone else, and it sucks or I’m not entertained—that’s on me,” Black said. “But if you’re not watching because you’re emotionally manipulated by your dislike of Jake Paul, then guess what? You’re doing exactly what he wants Anyone who angrily types out a comment saying, ‘Jake Paul sucks’ or ‘This fight’s a joke’? You’re paying Jake Paul. That’s the game. He wins either way.”

Now, what do you think about Michael Bisping’s take? Is he spot on about Jake Paul cherry-picking his opponents? Or is Jake just outsmarting the system and playing the business side of boxing better than most? Let us know in the comments.