Jake Paul Is Sports Illustrated’s 2021 Breakout Boxer of the Year
Just five fights into his professional boxing career, the 24-year-old lightning rod has elevated the sport while skipping its outdated ladder to success.
Chris MannixJan 5, 2022
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Jake Paul isn’t chasing championships, no matter how much you want him to, no matter how many times you scream that it’s the only way to validate him. He isn’t rushing to fight “real boxers,” as Claressa Shields, Tony Bellew and Sergio Mora have suggested. He doesn’t care if you call him a “Disney kid” (Kamaru Usman) or urge Paul, 24, to fight guys his own age (Dana White). “An experienced fighter in his own weight class will demolish him,” Bob Arum said recently. Good thing Jake has no firm plans on facing one.
Why not? Better question: Why would he? In one year, Paul has emerged as one of boxing’s biggest attractions. He has three wins, two by knockout, one by spectacular knockout. He has packed arenas in Ohio and Florida. He has reportedly generated more pay-per-view buys this year than any non-heavyweight not named Canelo. He has marshaled his social media following—20.4 million on YouTube, 18.4 million on Instagram and 15.7 million on TikTok—to create an army of boxing fans that never existed. He is Sports Illustrated’s Breakout Boxer of the Year not for his potential, but for what he already is.
“To think about how all the things that happened in the fashion that it all happened,” Paul told SI this week, “it's just sort of mind-blowing.”
Jake Paul celebrates after knocking out Tyron Woodley in December at Amalie Arena.
Kim Klement/USA Today Sports
Paul’s year began in April, against Ben Askren, a cocky ex-UFC grappler who dismissed Paul as a sideshow. Less than two minutes into the first round, a wobbly Askren, flattened by a looping right hand, thought something different.
In August, it was Tyron Woodley, the menacing ex-UFC champion regarded by some as the greatest welterweight mixed martial artist of all time. Woodley was game, pressuring Paul, wearing down a fighter who had never gone past the second round by stretching him to eight. In the end, though, Paul did enough to earn a split decision.
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Jake Paul: Sports Illustrated's 2021 breakout boxer of the year - Sports Illustrated
Just five fights into his professional boxing career, the 24-year-old lightning rod has elevated the sport while skipping its outdated ladder to success.
Chris MannixJan 5, 2022
You are reading 1 of 4 free premium articles. Subscribe for unlimited access for just $1. Members log in.
Jake Paul isn’t chasing championships, no matter how much you want him to, no matter how many times you scream that it’s the only way to validate him. He isn’t rushing to fight “real boxers,” as Claressa Shields, Tony Bellew and Sergio Mora have suggested. He doesn’t care if you call him a “Disney kid” (Kamaru Usman) or urge Paul, 24, to fight guys his own age (Dana White). “An experienced fighter in his own weight class will demolish him,” Bob Arum said recently. Good thing Jake has no firm plans on facing one.
Why not? Better question: Why would he? In one year, Paul has emerged as one of boxing’s biggest attractions. He has three wins, two by knockout, one by spectacular knockout. He has packed arenas in Ohio and Florida. He has reportedly generated more pay-per-view buys this year than any non-heavyweight not named Canelo. He has marshaled his social media following—20.4 million on YouTube, 18.4 million on Instagram and 15.7 million on TikTok—to create an army of boxing fans that never existed. He is Sports Illustrated’s Breakout Boxer of the Year not for his potential, but for what he already is.
“To think about how all the things that happened in the fashion that it all happened,” Paul told SI this week, “it's just sort of mind-blowing.”
Jake Paul celebrates after knocking out Tyron Woodley in December at Amalie Arena.
Kim Klement/USA Today Sports
Paul’s year began in April, against Ben Askren, a cocky ex-UFC grappler who dismissed Paul as a sideshow. Less than two minutes into the first round, a wobbly Askren, flattened by a looping right hand, thought something different.
In August, it was Tyron Woodley, the menacing ex-UFC champion regarded by some as the greatest welterweight mixed martial artist of all time. Woodley was game, pressuring Paul, wearing down a fighter who had never gone past the second round by stretching him to eight. In the end, though, Paul did enough to earn a split decision.
Rest of the article here
Jake Paul: Sports Illustrated's 2021 breakout boxer of the year - Sports Illustrated
why the hell is he talking about boxing
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