Even Jake Paul himself acknowledges that he's progressing through the boxing ranks at a pace that far exceeds the norm. With just 11 professional fights under his belt, the 27-year-old is already a main-event attraction, drawing massive audiences to witness his exploits in the ring. Much of this interest stems from his substantial following outside of boxing, built through his YouTube presence and various business ventures. However, the question remains: how legitimate of a boxer is Jake Paul, and is his upcoming fight against the legendary Mike Tyson a true test of his abilities?

Forging an Unorthodox Path to Boxing Stardom

A Hybrid Event or a New Form of Entertainment?

Iconic broadcaster Jim Lampley, who called boxing on HBO for 30 years, acknowledges that the Jake Paul phenomenon is a departure from the traditional boxing experience. "You can call it a hybrid event, you can call it a newly created form, whatever you want to use for a term to establish that it's not what I was experienced in," Lampley said. While he has been informed that Paul is athletic and has made reasonable strides in learning the sport as an adult, Lampley notes that this is not always an easy feat, as many of the best competitors in boxing began their training at a much younger age, like the legendary Mike Tyson.

Navigating the Divide Between Influencer and Boxer

Paul's boxing career has been a unique blend of his influencer status and his developing skills in the ring. He has fought just three actual, professional boxers, compiling a 2-1 record in those bouts. The rest of his opponents have been fellow influencers, MMA fighters, or professional athletes from other sports. This has led some, like Tyson himself, to describe Paul's career as "manufactured." As Paul seeks to be taken seriously as a boxer, the question of when he will start facing more accomplished contenders has become a point of contention.

Embracing the Business of Boxing

Shawn Porter, a former two-time welterweight champion who now works as a boxing analyst, acknowledges that while Paul is a "young, inexperienced boxer," he is in a position that most young boxers never find themselves in. "He has hundreds of thousands to millions of people watching him, where most even Olympians, when we have our first five-to-ten fights, there's nobody in the stadium, we don't have the same sort of audience," Porter said. This exposure and the business opportunities it presents are a significant advantage for Paul, even if his boxing skills are still developing.

Questioning the Rules and Legitimacy of the Tyson Fight

While Porter respects Paul as a legitimate boxer, he has concerns about the rules for the upcoming fight against Mike Tyson. The bout will feature eight rounds instead of the standard 10, with each round lasting two minutes instead of the usual three. Additionally, the fighters will wear larger 14-ounce gloves rather than the standard 10-ounce gloves. "You want to legitimize yourself and you're legit, but when you say this is a two-minute round fight instead of a three-minute round fight, now you're depreciating your value, in my personal opinion," Porter said.

Assessing Paul's Path to Victory Against Tyson

Despite the unconventional rules, Lampley believes that Paul has a clear path to victory against the 58-year-old Tyson. "If Jake Paul wants to beat Mike Tyson, he should look back and observe that the style that gave Tyson the most trouble is that of the aggressive counter-puncher," Lampley said. With the power that Paul has demonstrated in his previous fights, he may be able to capitalize on Tyson's natural tendency to be aggressive and fire back with meaningful shots.In the end, the Jake Paul phenomenon represents a unique and evolving intersection of influencer culture, business savvy, and the pursuit of boxing legitimacy. While his path to stardom may be unconventional, Paul's ability to captivate audiences and navigate the complexities of the sport have made him a polarizing figure in the world of boxing.