'Doesn't pick guys so he'll look stupid': The Jake Paul hoax taking a weird new world for a ride

It's the most overused phrase in boxing and has been for the last few years - "Jake Paul is good for the sport."

The 28-year-old who became famous as a YouTube performer has infiltrated the boxing world, with those who initially viewed his place in pugilism with scepticism and derision now singing his praises.

After 12 fights - most influential people in the sport tend to agree - the YouTuber has had a positive impact due to the new eyes he's brought to the sport and the interest he's generated in women's boxing by promoting and uplifting seven-time world champion Amanda Serrano.

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No argument there.

But has the impact been all positive? That's the multi-million-dollar question.

Paul has pulled his legion of fanboys along for the ride and all involved in the event leave happy, with their pockets full.

Everybody from his opponents, rival trainers, promoters and broadcasters make more money out of the shows Paul puts on than just about any other boxer.

His fight against Mike Tyson generated the biggest gate at AT&T Stadium in Texas, raking in over $27 million (AUD).

The previous Texas gate record was set by undisputed middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez's 2021 showdown with Billy Joe Saunders at $13.7 million.

Sure, names sell fights, yet the fact that an ex-Disney child star fighting a nearly 60-year-old Tyson generated more money at the gate than arguably the best boxer on the planet suggests something has gone amiss.

Floyd Mayweather once famously said, "Skills pay the bills", and once upon a time those words rang true.

The sport of boxing has been built on the shoulders of champions and their sheer dominance in the ring.

Names like Ali, Tyson, Hagler, Hearns, Leonard - people from all walks of life would converge to the one space for one night to get a glimpse of greatness, brutality and beauty all swirling at the same time in the squared circle.

Fans still turned up to watch even if they knew the result before the bell rang because they were witnessing - as cliched as it sounds - poetry in motion.

And in doing so, those with the ultimate skill would share in the spoils of their labour, fighting it out for millions of dollars in front of a mass audience.

Not to say this doesn't happen today - but the mix of social media and the sports world has created an environment where those who don't really have the skills can pay the bills - long after they've left the sport.

Cue Jake Paul.

Paul can fight, but he's nowhere near the bold declarations he makes about himself and his career path.

Ahead of his fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, the son of the Mexican boxing great, on Sunday (AEST), Paul claimed that he is the "King of Boxing" and has a legacy which surpasses the likes of Muhammad Ali.

The aforementioned legends made a name for themselves knocking out other trained killers. They beat up and dropped rivals in their division to become champions, creating a swirl of interest that made them household names.

But Paul has worked the boxing game in reverse.

He built an audience first and then worked out a way to monetise it online and in person by holding live events.

If Paul fought other fighters - genuine boxers- rather than cherry-picking retired MMA fighters or former champions reaching pensioner age, then the respect he deeply yearns would be his.

The only fighter he's met who had any genuine boxing chops, apart from the grandfatherly Mike Tyson, was the reality TV star brother of Tyson Fury, Tommy Fury, and he beat Paul fair and square.

Paul's financial success in the ring has led to several other influencer fights and has arguably created a new genre of boxing. That smell of cash that follows Paul has turned supposed enemies into business partners.

Promoters who were critical of him in the past are now making money with Paul.

Ahead of Sunday's bout, Oscar De La Hoya, who has repeatedly denounced Paul's career and will co-promote Sunday's fight was singing a different tune.

"The only reason I got involved with this is because he is fighting a real fighter now," he said.

"Julio Cesar Chavez went 12 rounds with Canelo; he is an ex-world champion in boxing. It's a real legit fight; I'm looking forward to it.

"I'm questioning what Chavez Jr we will see, will he be in great shape, will he not be in shape. Will he make weight?

"Ultimately you have to tell yourself, Jake Paul congratulations, this is the real first legitimate world champion fighter you're fighting."

Now part of that is true, Chavez is a former world champ. But his standing in the boxing world these days was well summed up by legendary trainer Teddy Atlas.

"Yes he's [Chavez Jr] a former world champion, he earned that, he earned that himself, that's not from the father, but a lot of it is the father's name at this point," he said on his YouTube channel.

"And with all the inactivity, all the lifestyle issues, everything else, I don't see Chavez winning with his past performances.

"Paul's gonna beat him. Paul doesn't pick guys so he'll look stupid, he picks guys so he can sell it, he picks guys that do have the chance to give some entertainment element and some competitive element, but all of these elements are picked to be in favour of Paul. Again, what are you gonna do, get mad at him?"

Atlas like many others in the boxing world know that Paul's events are more like the WWE than professional boxing.

Not that it's scripted in Paul's favour, but his promotional company will never knowingly put him against someone that they think can beat him.

Unless there's a lot of money to be made.

And that's where things get tricky for boxing and purists of the sport.

Paul's world championship ambitions are well known. Even though his record does not warrant it, the amount of money he can generate can throw potential championship fights between legitimate contenders or belt holders off course.

If it wasn't for Saudi powerbroker and Ring Magazine owner Turkihi Alalshikh swooping in and offering Alavarez a $600 million four-fight deal, which includes an undisputed super middleweight championship clash with Terrence Crawford, Canelo would have signed on to fight Paul.

Fans of the sport would have been robbed of the chance to watch two of the greatest fighters of their time get in the ring because Canelo would have chased the money Paul had to offer first.

It's understood the amount of money Paul can generate could derail another world championship fight.

Paul's world title ambitions pricked the ears of WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion Gilberto Ramirez - and that could mean a longer wait for Jai Opetaia to unify the cruiserweight division.

The Aussie has his eyes set on the belts Ramirez holds but the champion could seek out a date with Paul first.

Ramirez has a mandatory defence against Cuba's Yuniel Dorticos as the co-main event on the Paul card on Sunday.

While Ramirez is then expected to face IBF and Ring champ Opetaia with victory, he surprisingly suggested he could go straight into a lucrative bout with Paul next.

"This is a great opportunity, and I look forward to putting on a great performance for my fans," Ramirez said.

"I think there is a chance of a possible world title fight in the future against Paul.

"He mentioned that he was ready to challenge me during a recent press conference, and I do believe he's a man of his word.

"That he meant it.

"While the goal (for me) is still the same, becoming undisputed cruiserweight champion of the world, we can still make the Paul fight next.

"We'll see if he's about the action or if it was just talk."

If Ramirez takes the bait and chases the money against Paul rather than taking on Opetaia in Saudi Arabia later in the year, then the much anticipated clash with the Aussie will have to wait, leaving genuine fight fans and Opetaia in the lurch once more.

With Paul desperately wanting a title to feed his narrative, the option for current world champions to ignore the rankings and belts for the cold-hard cash will always be on the table.

There's a case to be made that Jake Paul fighting for a world title could be positive for boxing due to the interest it would generate.

But if the cost is blowing up the ranking system and putting genuine championship match ups on hold during the prime years of the sport's best fighters, then Paul's true value to the sport must be held to scrutiny, not just measured by dollar signs.