We all know Jake Paul didn’t come from a boxing background. He wasn’t a prodigy child, and he didn’t spend 20 years in the amateurs before coming to PPV boxing.
Who cares.
Jake Paul did what no other boxer has been able to do since prime Mayweather. He introduced a whole generation to the sport of boxing. A generation that ten years ago was dedicated to watching and making mindless content that ridiculed themselves for strangers’ attention.
Generational Influence
Before him, the biggest question in boxing was: “Am I too old to start boxing?”
Every coach has heard it, from 15-year-olds to 50-year-olds. Boxing was seen as something you either start at 7 or cope with for the rest of your life, wishing you had.
Jake Paul was at the forefront of changing that. Introducing people to boxing not as a mindless brawling club, but as a real sport, one that demands dedication, proper recovery, and good coaching. Showing that the sweet science is more than just a name.
Not only has he helped the kids, but he helped boxing itself. By planting the seed of how thrilling the sport really is. Letting curiosity take people from Jake Paul fights, to Mike Tyson edits, to following current fighters, buying PPVs, and becoming real fans.
Jake Paul has opened the door to millions for a sport that had been on a decline for decades. Playing the villain. Letting people hate him, pray for him to get knocked out, and screaming that he’s a shame to boxing. Meanwhile, he’s bringing more people to the sport than almost anyone else on the planet.
The Netflix Effect
No doubt, Jake Paul is one of the biggest names in boxing.
This became undeniable after his Mike Tyson fight, which was reported to pull 108 million views worldwide. Netflix’s most-streamed sporting event ever, by live viewership.
But this fight didn’t just break streaming records; it changed the way we watch boxing. Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson was the first Netflix boxing event. Instead of spending $80 for one card that you might not even enjoy, Jake Paul introduced boxing to a world where you just click play on Netflix.
A platform that, since then, has given us Canelo vs Crawford, Serrano vs Taylor, and Paul vs Joshua, without paying a single PPV.
Jake Paul didn’t just introduce his audience to boxing; he created deals that introduced the world to the sport we love.
Payday
As well as a fighter, Jake Paul is the co-founder and co-owner of MVP Promotions.
This means, on top of helping his fans and signing platforms that make it effortless to watch the sport, Jake Paul has also dedicated himself to improving the lives of world-class boxers.
Leading in amateur prospects and women’s boxing initiatives, Jake Paul’s promotion has enabled dedicated fighters to earn their biggest viewership, some of their biggest paydays, and the most competitive fights of their careers.
His biggest accomplishment?
Mainstreaming women’s boxing.
Especially with his role in the Serrano vs Taylor rivalry. A feud that created the first women-only boxing card to headline Madison Square Garden, with around 2 million peak viewers.
That momentum carried into the rematch on the undercard of Paul vs Tyson, which many consider one of the greatest women’s fights of all time.
Finally, after controversy on who really won the second fight, they agreed to a third fight with MVP involved in setting up the first women's-only Netflix card, concluding the rivalry on a platform that brought women’s boxing to its largest global audience yet.
Undeniable
You don’t have to like Jake Paul to admit boxing would not be the same without him. Thanks to him, you saved money on massive cards that didn’t even include him, through his role in bringing boxing to Netflix. You’re also more aware of high-level fighters because of him, fast-tracking their careers and giving them platforms to show their skills on the biggest stage.
And most importantly…
He even let you watch him get knocked out against Anthony Joshua for free with your Netflix subscription.
So no matter what you hear or what they say, Jake Paul is one of the best things to happen to boxing in the last 10 years.
