Jake Paul has built one of the most unlikely success stories in modern combat sports. In just a few years, the YouTuber transformed himself into one of boxing’s biggest attractions, selling millions of pay-per-views, filling arenas and creating a promotional empire through Most Valuable Promotions. But for Canelo Álvarez, there is still an important distinction.
Speaking about Paul’s future after his recent injury, the undisputed champion praised his ability to entertain and generate massive revenue while warning that those achievements are not the same as becoming an elite boxer.
He needs to think about fighting again… It’s just facts
He can fight. He can make money. He’s a showman, and he did really well, but to be a real fighter is different
Jake Paul changed boxing before proving himself inside the ring
Whether people love him or hate him, Jake Paul has undeniably changed the business of boxing.
Instead of waiting for the sport to open doors, he built his own. Alongside Nakisa Bidarian, he co-founded Most Valuable Promotions, creating events that attracted mainstream audiences far beyond traditional boxing fans.
One of the biggest examples came with his blockbuster fight against Mike Tyson. The event was promoted by Paul’s own company, streamed globally and generated enormous financial success for everyone involved, including Tyson himself. It demonstrated that Paul could sell fights on a scale few active boxers can match.
However, Canelo’s point goes beyond ticket sales or social media numbers.
For years, Paul carefully selected opponents that allowed him to develop while steadily growing his profile. Eventually, though, he stepped into the ring with former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, a challenge unlike any he had faced before. The result was brutal.
Joshua stopped Paul and fractured his jaw in two places, forcing him to undergo surgery. Months later, Paul admitted that doctors were still monitoring the injury and that he could not even guarantee he would ever be medically cleared to fight again.
Paul has already accomplished what few influencers ever could. He became a legitimate attraction, a successful promoter and a professional boxer.
But in Canelo’s eyes, that path is closer to that of a showman than that of a true professional boxer.
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