EVEN IN DEFEAT, JAKE PAUL DESERVES RESPECT

So last night on Netflix, I witnessed Jake Paul get demolished in the sixth round by a crushing right hand from former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

I, for one, refuse to join the internet in celebrating.

For starters, since many view Paul as nothing more than a YouTuber, you can’t deny that it took some real stones to get into the ring with someone with the size and skill set that Joshua possesses.

Paul lasted until the sixth round.

Most of you guys clowning him wouldn’t even last as long as a virgin on his honeymoon, and that’s why I’m going to write this entry giving Paul his props and a thank you if this was his last boxing match.

Yes, it looked like Paul was only trying to survive, but what else were we supposed to expect? There was no chance of him winning. Zero. Still, he showed up and put eyes on the sport, even if it meant sacrificing his jaw, which was reportedly broken during the bout.

I totally understand why Paul is so easy to root against. While a lot of people find him easy to hate, I’ve always just found him to be goofy, and for the most part, he does seem to cherry-pick opponents against guys who were either past their prime or out of their element, coming from an MMA cage into a boxing ring.

But if this is where his boxing career ends, I for one appreciate what he’s done for the sport.

Paul has put eyes on the TV and butts in the seats, giving boxing a much-needed shot in the arm, including on the women’s side of the sport, which a lot of people ignore.

His promotion company, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), has made women’s boxing a bigger priority than most other promotion companies. MVP signed Amanda Serrano back in 2021, and they’ve kept adding top women to their roster since.

You don’t have to like Jake Paul to admit that women’s boxing getting more attention, and better paydays, is a good thing.

And while he’s helped elevate the sport through promotion, he’s also taken his own career seriously. By most accounts, he’s fully embraced the boxing lifestyle and trains like a real fighter.

If Jake Paul hangs it up after this, I’m not going to pretend he didn’t leave a mark. He brought a huge amount of attention to boxing, helped create big paydays, and gave women’s boxing a bigger spotlight.

Last night was a reminder that boxing is like every other sport. There are levels.

It’s time to give Jake Paul his respect.