Article by Mattan Yuger
A new player entered the fight game. I'm not sure how exactly, but 2 brush youtubers have become the biggest disruptors in combat sport today. I guess this is just another one of these crazy realties we have to get used to in this upside down world we live in. And still, the fact that an internet troll and professional douchebag is facing the pound for pound greatest boxer of all time is hard to wrap your mind around.
In reality, this fight is not even about boxing. It's a freak show and a cultural movement that is evolving in front of our eyes. It's hard to put your finger on it but at minimum, it's yet another example that a good shit show will always sell. I guess In a world where reality TV stars can become president, we just don't have an excuse to be surprised anymore.
How did we get here?
Ironically enough, the Paul brothers are not to blame or credit (depending on your point of view) for this fantasy fights trend, rather the real boxer in this odd man match up. For Mayweather, this marks a full circle since his blockbuster extravaganza vs McGregor that started this crossover lane and showed the world that there’s a market for this kind of circus.
Mayweather might have started this game, but the Paul brothers sure took the ball and ran with it farther than anyone ever imagined. It started with Logan Paul, squashing his beef with a fellow youtuber inside the ring, before his younger brother took on former NBA star, Nate Robinson. Jake Paul produced one of the most viral knockouts and memes of the year and followed it up with another highlight finish, this time against an actual fighter and former UFC contender, Ben Askern.
Yet we shouldn't get carried away, a retired, out of shape fighter, who relies on his wrestling and is infamous for his amateurish boxing skills, is the best matchup he could have picked. But still, few picked him to win as Asken’s Jaw wasn't the only one to drop when he knocked him out in the 2nd round. After that fight, it will be hard to deny these guys are taking boxing just as seriously as their shit talking.
Admitting that 2 young, athletic, strapping YouTube stars might have some boxing chops is one thing, but adding Floyd Mayweather to the mix is entirely different. Just seeing their names next to each other is enough to short circuit your brain in this bizarre world's colliding moment. It's easy to understand why so many eyes have rolled and the appeal in hating these frivolous kids is clear, but the attention they’re getting is undeniable.
“They keep hating but still watching”
The Paul brothers are basically everyone's version of the cocky kid from high school. The one we were taught peaked early, before a long and slow decline through the rest of his life. And as much as we would love to believe that's true, I'm afraid this duo didn't get the message or at least they’re delaying the inevitable.
This might be a publicity stunt but the impact is real and transcended from the roams of the internet into the real world. In such a divided atmosphere we live in, 15 thousand people unanimously chanting “Fuck Jake Paul” at a packed UFC arena is a refreshing sight of solidarity. It seems like everyone in the UFC, from former heavyweight champions to the all mighty boss himself, Dana White, have some choice words for the youngster and want that smoke.
Jake Paul has brilliantly managed to position himself as the most hated persona in the MMA community and draw all the attention in a stacked event that he wasn't even a part of. Whether you enjoy the antics or can't wait to see these disrespectful kids get humbled, it's hard to ignore the spectacle. And here lies the key for their success, like the classic “heel” act from a wrestling’s villain textbook. Now, his older brother is trying to write a chapter from the same book against the epiphany of boxing.
They always seem to find the right button to push and turn shit stirring into an art form. Like most, I enjoy dismissing and looking down at their shenanigans but I still have to admit, it's entertaining. In a time where “Cloute” is the new buzzword and public beef is content gold, this real life version of MTV’s “Celebrity DeathMatch” cartoon might be more than just a passing fad. Place your bets As for the fight itself, it feels silly to seriously consider any result but one. Sure, Logan Paul has some 50 pounds and 6 inches over a retired fighter on the wrong side of 40 but that's not supposed to be nearly enough. Mayweather would need to lose more than just a step for this to be competitive and if the world still makes any kind of sense, Logan should not be able to even touch him. The bet makers give the amature roughly 1 to 20 chance but that's enough to spark the imagination of what it would be like to live in a reality where an internet troll can beat the GOAT. On June 6th we might just find out.