YouTube boxing star Jake Paul is set to face former middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on June 28 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Yet, the Cleveland native still seems to be riding the wave of his blockbuster bout with Mike Tyson from last November. Despite encountering streaming issues, the Tyson fight shattered records to become the most-watched combat sports event in history. Not just that!
It also broke gate revenue records previously held by Canelo Alvarez in Texas, with Paul reportedly earning an astonishing $40 million from the high-profile, cross-generational showdown. Now, as talks circulate about a potential clash with Gervonta Davis, Paul appears eager to keep the momentum going, while never losing sight of the moment that truly catapulted his career.
While appearing in an interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, ‘The Problem Child’ opened up about life after his historic showdown with Mike Tyson, revealing just how much things have changed. Pressed by Helwani on the aftermath of the fight, Paul admitted, “Yeah, no, it’s definitely been crazy, man,” he told Helwani.
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“I think I can’t go anywhere without getting bombarded by all age groups now.” Of course, Paul was already a household name thanks to his massive YouTube following and bizarre antics, even if he wasn’t universally embraced by the boxing world. Still, the Tyson fight elevated his fame to an entirely new level.
Regardless, he continued, “And it’s just so many people who watched it and loved it and became a fan. My life has definitely changed since that moment.” Credit is also due to Mike Tyson, who was 58 at the time and reportedly earned $20 million from the event. While Paul had headlined cards before, it was Tyson’s legendary status in boxing that turned the fight into a cultural moment, drawing in fans from all generations and helping make it one of the most-watched bouts in recent history.
Despite the mark Paul has made in the sport, not everyone is happy about Paul’s next bout.
Bob Arum shares thoughts on Jake Paul vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Bob Arum didn’t hold back when asked about the Jake Paul vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. fight. Speaking to Fight Hub TV, the 93-year-old promoter blasted the matchup as “not even boxing,” adding that he thought Chavez Jr. had retired from the sport a long time ago and claimed Jake Paul “is not a boxer.”
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 18: Bob Arum speaks during the Terence Crawford vs Shawn Porter undercard press conference at Islander Ballroom at Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino on November 18, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)
Arum’s frustration stems from what he sees as a sideshow gaining more attention than it deserves. While Chavez Jr. once held a world title, he’s fought only sporadically since 2017, most recently beating former MMA fighter Uriah Hall. Paul, meanwhile, last defeated a 58-year-old Mike Tyson—an event Arum called “demeaning for the sport of boxing.”
Still, Arum acknowledged Paul’s savvy. “Jake Paul is smarter than you and me combined! It’s not a scam, because people know what they’re getting.” He also floated names like Richard Torrez Jr. and Artur Beterbiev as real fighters Paul will likely never face.
That said, it appears that even though Jake Paul considers the Mike Tyson fight a moment in his boxing career that changed everything, others view the same fight very differently. But the question is—what did you think about the fight?
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