Tom Wood
Jake Paul has explained why – as if any further information was needed – he simply doesn’t give a f**k what people think about him.
During his short but eventful boxing career to date, Paul has risen to become one of the biggest faces, loudest voices, and lucrative prospects in the sport.
Despite the popularity of his fights, he continues to divide opinion with his attitude and approach to promotion.
While it’s certainly true that he has brought millions of new eyes to the fight game, his boastful and cocky demeanour has often rubbed people up the wrong way, particularly those who – quite rightly – point out that he’s never yet faced an actual professional boxer in his five fights to date.
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Well, with that about to change on 6 August when he takes to the ring at Madison Square Garden against 12-1 professional Hasim Rahman Jr., ‘The Problem Child’ opened up on his views on haters, critics, and the people who want to see him knocked out.
Unsurprisingly, he’s pretty bullish about it.
“I don’t really worry about what these kids are saying on their mom’s Wi-Fi, typing from their basement," he said. “They’ve never done anything; they’ve never accomplished anything.
“There’s a tonne of haters out there and there always will be, but if you’re doing something awesome then you’re going to have critics.”
Despite that, some criticism does get through, but it has to come from the right people.
He continued: “It takes a lot for me to look at something and say ‘hmm, was that person right?’ It has to come from a very credible person.
“If someone is hating on me and it’s a very credible person, coming from a place of truth and seeking truth – which is one of the most important things that any human can do – then I will analyse that and think ‘hey, maybe they were right’.
“But a lot of this stuff is just hearsay, hoopla, ups and downs, drama, he said/she said, calling names and such. I couldn’t give a s**t about these kids, man.” There you have it.
As for those who don’t respect him as a boxer, despite the fact that he’s despatched several UFC fighters in his career to date, including a stunning knockout of Tyron Woodley which features as the KO of the year in several key publications’ lists, he isn’t too worried.
“This is the first time I’m going up against a professional boxer,” he added.
“He has 100 amateur fights, he’s way more experienced than me, he’s bigger than me, he has the reach [and] the height, he has all the advantages.
“After this, people will have no choice but to show some respect.”
Given the way Paul polarises opinion, it’s likely that even a first round knockout against Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez wouldn’t win some around, but so far in his early career he’s shown that the raw talent and drive are there to take him further in the fight game.
He certainly doesn’t lack confidence, either. Exactly how far he goes, we'll have to wait and see.
Jake Paul vs Hasim Rahman Jr. takes place at Madison Square Garden on 6 August. Tickets can be bought online at MSG.com and the whole card will be shown live on DAZN in the UK for subscribers.