Jake Paul might actually be a decent boxer
(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images via FanDuel)
Somehow, by someway, Jake Paul managed to stay (unofficially) undefeated after taking on former UFC Welterweight champion Tyron Woodley Sunday night and winning by split decision.
How exactly the fight ended in split decision? I have no idea. If you’ve read any of my previous blogs on this whole celebrity boxing fad, you know how much it pains me to say that Jake Paul dominated the fight, and looked like a decent boxer while doing so.
Granted I am not qualified by any means to score a boxing bout, but in my eyes Jake Paul easily won six of the eight rounds en route to a 78-74 score on the cards. Frankly, Jake Paul is lucky to have made it out of the fourth round after Woodley rocked him with a ferocious right hook that caused him to stumble against the ropes.
Paul was wobbly and visibly rocked by the hit, but Woodley did a poor job at following up on that hit and applying pressure. Sure Woodley has an iron chin when it comes to eating punches, but did he realize you actually have to keep punching people to win a boxing match?
Half the time Woodley was fighting, he kept his hands far from his face with his palms facing outward in classic MMA fashion. He was trying to catch and smack away punches half the time. Have you ever seen Floyd Mayweather try to catch a punch with boxing gloves on?... I rest my case.
Now I don’t say this to discredit Woodley by any means as I’m sure he did his fair share of training and preparation for his professional boxing debut, rather to highlight the difference between the two fighters. While Woodley was stiff, bouncy and inconsistent defensively, Jake Paul had a solid stance and great head movement when bobbing and weaving.
I never thought I would say this, but I agree with Skip Bayless about Paul’s style of fighting. He does a great deal of damage with his left hand which is an amazing trait for a right-handed fighter to have, but his dominant hand is visibly inconsistent when striking and isn’t as powerful as he advertises.
Although Woodley lost on the score cards, the real loser is anyone that actually paid to watch this. Sure, it was far more entertaining than the one-round bout against Ben Askren, but still not worth 50 bucks.
As much as I hate Jake Paul, I can’t stop watching until I see him knocked out, face down in the ring. Of course that’s exactly what he wants and I’m a sucker for falling for his never-ending marketing antics, but I can’t help myself. Someone has to beat him eventually… right?
No one knows exactly what’s next for Jake Paul although there are a few likely paths for his next fight. There is a potential rematch on the card after Tyron Woodley agreed to get an “I love Jake Paul” tattoo in exchange for another shot to beat him.
Although this exchange is likely just a product of in-the-moment emotions and/or a ploy for the media, I would love to see it. Woodley absolutely rocked Jake Paul in the fourth round, something the “prblm child” hadn’t experienced in his previous three fights. If Woodley could just keep up that pace for a full fight rather than a random round, we’ve got a fight on our hands.
The other possibility spreading around the rumor mill is Tommy Fury, the Love Island (UK) reality star and Tyson Fury’s nephew. Based on his last name and last name alone, you can assume this kid has boxing in his blood, and you’d be right.
Tommy Fury moved to 7-0 after his fight against Anthony Taylor on the main card of Sunday’s event and even called out Jake Paul to be his next opponent:
“I want you next you bum. Let’s get it on.” How can you not love British people?
This matchup actually makes a lot of sense. Tommy Fury is a boxer, a real boxer trying to climb the ranks towards an actual world title rather than aiming for massive paydays fighting in celebrity events. Jake Paul on the other hand claims he wants to be the best boxer in the world, and to do so you have to fight actual boxers.
This is the perfect first step for both fighters involved. Tommy Fury can finally get his name out there on a major PPV event and showcase his skill set while Jake Paul could finally add an actual boxing match to his “professional” resume.
All of this is speculation of course, but knowing the Paul brothers I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw Jake land a fight with Canelo or some other extravagant bullshit only they could pull off.
Regardless of who Jake Paul fights next, you bet your ass I’ll be throwing the house on his opponent’s money line.