UFC star Justin Gaethje differs from many of his peers with his view on Jake Paul’s boxing exploits.
Not many figures have been as polarizing in combat sports as Paul in recent years. The Cleveland native began his journey in the ring against fellow YouTubers and sports stars but has since faced a number of prominent fighting names.
After first defeating MMA legend Ben Askren, ‘The Problem Child’ stayed unbeaten by narrowly outpointing Tyron Woodley. The former UFC champion and MMA fans were shocked by what transpired in the immediate rematch, after Paul brutally knocked Woodley out.
Paul has since claimed to be pursuing championships in boxing but has continued to face criticism for his choice of opposition. That was the case after the 28-year-old beat MMA veterans like Nate Diaz and Anderson Silva, but it reached a whole new level when Paul faced 58-year-old Mike Tyson last time out.
A number of the online star’s critics are UFC fighters. Gaethje, however, isn’t among them.
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Justin Gaethje lauds Jake Paul for being his own boss in combat sports
During a recent appearance on The Makeshift Podcast, Gaethje was asked for his opinion on celebrity boxing and the crossover craze that has existed in recent years.
While the likes of Michael Bisping and Dana White have been publicly critical of Paul’s boxing endeavors, Gaethje had nothing but praise for how the former Disney star has approached things.
“I mean, Jake Paul is a genius,” Gaethje said.
“What he did is so f—— awesome. Because nobody owns him, nothing owns him, and he didn’t have to go through the double A, the whole circuit.”
‘The Highlight’ did, however, predict a swift end to the trend of celebrities trying their hand at boxing.
“But I don’t think it’s going to (stay) a mainstream thing,” Gaethje added. “(Paul’s) doing it less and less. Because they lose a lot of money, whoever’s paying for it.”
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Jake Paul set for his first boxing match since beating Mike Tyson
For now, the Cleveland native remains in the boxing game, and his next trip to the squared circle is just around the corner.
Paul is set to fight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., a former WBC middleweight champion. The pair will headline a card at the Honda Center in Anaheim on June 28.
The YouTube star’s next match takes place on the same date as UFC 317, the MMA promotion’s curtain-closer for International Fight Week.
A victory for Paul would mark his sixth straight since losing a close decision to Tommy Fury in February 2023 — though his detractors would question the legitimacy of wins over the likes of Tyson.