Fans Lose it as Jake Paul Claims to be ‘Greatest Thing Since Muhammad Ali’ in Boxing

Jake Paul compares his influence in modern boxing with the iconic heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali.

Fans Lose it as Jake Paul Claims to be ‘Greatest Thing Since Muhammad Ali’ in Boxing

Jake Paul compares himself to Muhammad Ali (via Imago X)

The sport of boxing has witnessed legendary champions whose charisma and skills deeply inspired fans and aspiring fighters across the generations. Icons like Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson dominated pay-per-views and brought mainstream attention to the sport. In today’s landscape, unconventional stars like Jake Paul have disrupted tradition, attracting younger audiences through social media influence.

Paul is currently among boxing’s biggest attractions, gaining fame by facing retired UFC legends and building a loyal fanbase. With only one loss on his professional record, he has finished most opponents impressively, often securing wins by powerful knockouts. In a recent interview, Paul boldly compared his cultural influence today to what Muhammad Ali represented during his iconic era.

But I’m the greatest thing to happen to boxing since Muhammad Ali, and there’s no debating that. No other fighter is building gyms, getting boxing gloves into the hands of kids, throwing multiple events a year, donating my whole entire purse back into my own charity when I fought in Puerto Rico…I’ve done this in only 12 fights, where Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather, Marvin Hagler, you can name any of these people, fought nobodies for their first 15-20 fights, and no one even knew who they were.

Jake Paul said ahead of his upcoming fight

Ali is considered the greatest for his unmatched skill, charisma, and courage both inside and outside the ring. He defeated legendary opponents, revolutionized boxing with speed and style, and inspired millions by standing up for civil rights. Ali’s legacy goes beyond championships; his impact on culture, politics, and sports history makes him a true global icon forever remembered.

In the past few years, Paul has tried his best to follow that same path, especially outside the ring. He has publicly spoken about fighter pay and set up promotions to manage other top boxers. However, his legacy is far too small in comparison to Ali and fans were definitely annoyed by the comparisons.

Fight fans react to Jake Paul comparing himself to Muhammad Ali

Jake Paul started his boxing career in 2018, first fighting as a YouTuber in an amateur bout against Deji. He turned professional in January 2020, defeating fellow YouTuber AnEsonGib by TKO. Paul gradually moved up by defeating former UFC stars like Anderson Silva, Ben Askren, and Tyron Woodley. His biggest pay-per-view event was against Nate Diaz in 2023, generating around 450,000 buys.

Jake Paul's boxing career
Jake Paul’s boxing career (via X)

In 2024, Jake Paul fought boxing legend Mike Tyson and won by unanimous decision after eight rounds. Ahead of the fight, many fans criticized Paul for fighting Tyson way out of his prime but it didn’t happen to him. Nevertheless, here are some reactions from the fighter’s latest comments.

Paul is well known for trolling and making wild statements to draw attention and keep himself constantly in headlines. As expected, his latest comments sparked reactions from all sides, with most people mocking his boxing credibility and loud personality. However, a smaller section of fans acknowledged Paul’s role in popularizing boxing among younger audiences and creating big-event spectacles.

He is currently scheduled to fight former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on June 28 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. This bout marks Paul’s return after defeating Mike Tyson, and it will be a 10-round cruiserweight contest headlining a DAZN Pay-Per-View event. Despite Chavez Jr.’s vast experience, Paul is the clear favorite, with betting odds strongly in his favor for another win.

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