Legendary boxing promoter – and early believer in the Jake Paul hype train – Eddie Hearn is thrilled with the YouTuber’s contribution to boxing. He even believes that Jake Paul is going to be disastrous for the UFC, particularly in light of his ongoing feud with UFC president Dana White.
In a recent appearance on The MMA Hour, Hearn pointed out that Jake Paul is bringing a new audience into boxing, which can only be good for the sport.
Eddie Hearn: Jake Paul is a “Disaster” for the UFC, but Great for Boxing
“I promoted his first fight, two years ago. I started this mess. I put him in against a YouTuber, and the best way I can describe Jake is, people say to me, ‘Do you like Jake Paul?’ And I say Jake — the terminology is different in the U.K. — plunker, grade-A plunker, dipstick. But I like him. I don’t mean that disrespectfully.
Half the time, I think he’s on a wind up. You know what I mean? Like, we were doing a media scrum today and he was talking about fighting Canelo, and I’m looking at him going, ‘Are you just laughing inside?’ And I think it’s a little bit of both.
I think fighters, because of what they’ve sacrificed, sometimes hold it against Jake Paul and say, ‘Well, I’ve been grinding in the gym for 15 years!’
Yeah, but you’re not good enough and you haven’t built the profile that he’s built. Why shouldn’t he be allowed to do that? He’s put in the work in the gym.
He’s fallen in love with the sport, genuinely, and I think he’s good for boxing. I think he brings a different kind of audience.” Hearn also pointed out that Dana White’s biggest misstep may have been calling Jake Paul out as early as he did. “I think he’s not everybody’s cup of tea, but you can’t start arguing with him, as Dana’s found out.
That diss track is outrageous. I thought it was really good. I like both guys, but I did watch it and go [covers his mouth], ‘What time’s the legal letter coming?’ But it’s kind of good in that you can never take life too seriously, and in that instance, I say they’re both good for each other. “
The pressure Jake Paul is putting on the UFC is mounting, and it may eventually prove to be enough to chance the organization. “There will be more pressure on the organization as time goes by, especially with the voice and noise of someone like Jake Paul.
Jake Paul’s a disaster for those guys. [He is sincere], but also I think he’s got a bee in his bonnet and he’s having fun with it, and I think he’s on a mission. But do I think he feels that UFC fighters are underpaid? Yeah, for sure.”
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