MMA Legend Urges Jake Paul to ‘Put Yourself in the Fire’, Torches Boxing Resume

Demetrious Johnson blasts Paul for padding up his record against 'athletes'.

Jake Paul is going by the book with his boxing career, or at least now he is.

'The Problem Child' was one of the pioneers in the influencer boxing scene when it first sprang up in 2018. After beating fellow YouTuber Deji as an amateur, Paul decided to launch his professional fighting career and the journey has been anything but ordinary for the 27-year-old.

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Paul has progressed as a pro, moving on from influencers to athletes, to actual fighters in Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley (twice), and Anderson Silva. 

The outspoken American even faced ex-UFC star Nate Diaz after suffering his first loss to Tommy Fury in 2023. On top of Fury, Paul has taken on other boxers in Andre August and most recently Ryan Bourland (17-3), who he KO'ed in the opening round on Saturday.

The world wanted to see Paul fighting actual boxers and they got it. However, former UFC Champion and current ONE Championship titleholder Demetrious Johnson still has a bone to pick with the influencer's choice of opponents.

"Paul's evolution as a boxer, and he is evolving," Johnson said of Paul's pro run on his YouTube channel (h/t: Championship Rounds). "Don't get me wrong, he is evolving. But, what are you doing when you're fighting these guys that you find off the street? When he fought Andre August, this gentleman was running pizza routes [as a delivery driver]. 

"Go find somebody who's 25, 26 year old, who Eddie Hearn or somebody can find that's in the gym, that's grinding, that's hungry. Put yourself in the fire, put yourself against top level competition to build your credibility."

Paul's boxing record might read 9-1, but as 'Mighty Mouse' professes: 

"There is a difference between a professional boxer or professional athlete and amateur. Right? These fights that Jake Paul are doing, not the fights that he did against Anderson Silva, Tyron Woodley, Nate Diaz, Tommy Fury... I can't keep track, he fights all these random guys, but those fights he fought against professional athletes.

"Now against Andre August, against Ryan [Bourland], and the basketball player [Nate Robinson], the fight at the very beginning, those aren't professional fights."

After running through the 'Rhino' in Puerto Rico, Paul has called for a serious step up in the competition with seasoned boxing star Canelo Alvarez. 

"Canelo, stop ducking. I know you want it," Paul declared in his post-fight interview. "I'm repping Puerto Rico, you're repping Mexico, so it's Puerto Rico vs. Mexico.

"I want Canelo. I want all the biggest names. Like I said, I'm the face of this sport. Truly, who's doing more for boxing than me? I keep on proving myself time and time again."

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