Mike Tyson thought Jake Paul should be given a belt for ‘saving’ boxing from Dana White whooping
Boxing owes a lot to Jake Paul.
That's according to Mike Tyson whom he faces in the ring this year in a fight that is said to make him $20million, which is the sort of money he was making in his heyday as heavyweight champion of the world.
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In a few short years, Paul has become an influential figure in boxing and Tyson saw him up close against ex-NBA star Nate Robinson when he was making his name in the sport on the undercard of his fight with Roy Jones Jr in 2020.
The former undisputed heavyweight champion had some huge words of praise for Paul in the aftermath when asked what he thought of Paul, his brother Logan and the influencers bringing more eyes to boxing in an age when UFC boss Dana White was gradually taking over the fight game.
“Listen, my ego says so many things, but my reality is they help boxing so much," he said after boxing to a draw with Jones Jr. "Boxing owes these guys, they owe these YouTube boxers some kind of respect.
"They should give them some belts because these guys make boxing alive. Boxing was pretty much a dying sport.
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"UFC was kicking our butts, and now we got these YouTube boxers boxing with 25 million views. Boxing’s going back.
"Thanks to the YouTube boxers. I believe the more anyone boxes the bigger it is for the sport because boxing took a couple of beatings since the UFC’s been around.”
Paul has since fought in some high-profile events against the likes of Tommy Fury, Tyron Woodley and Anderson Silva, generating more than $87 million in total revenue from his exploits.
He has not received a world title belt given his vast gap from the top level, but has received a series of commemorative belts for some of his events.
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Boxing seems to be booming again after a dry patch.
During his time in the sport, Paul has attempted to take on the UFC directly drawing some of its big names into crossover boxing fights.
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He has even criticised White and the UFC, insisting boxing has a much more preferential treatment of its fighters, including pay and healthcare.
The 'sweet science' is now back battling more than ever, and Paul went on to agree with Tyson's claim suggesting he spearheaded its redemption arc.
"I think this is why boxing was such a dying sport before I came into it," he said during an interview in 2023.
"I literally saved the whole, entire sport, basically single-handedly along with some other heavyweights and some lightweights, but mostly because of me boxing was saved.
"And I'm starting to realise what the problem was, it's all of these fighters who don't want to man up and actually make these fights happen. That's why you don't see the biggest fights.
"So when I came in and switched the whole game up, brought in the social media element, brought 60 million followers over into the sport, you see a difference and it's made an everlasting impact."
Tyson represents his biggest name yet on his nine-fight career and the two will lock horns in a summer blockbuster on Netflix.
And while he may not have heard of him before 2020, he certainly knows all about the Problem Child now.
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