Comments Thread For: Prograis: I Called Jake Paul, Others Clowns; Now I Realize They're Bringing More Eyes To Boxing

[siablo14]

And that’s one of the things wrong with boxing today. The fact that they would make more money together, have a better legacy together doesn’t mean much, since they can both fight someone else for less, someone who is less threat to their resumes.

The fans are to be blamed?

[KingOfGlory]

I still don't understand how anybody can think Jake Paul is bad for boxing.

1) He brings more eyes to the sport. Especially young men who are otherwise drawn to MMA for their combat fix.

2) His fans actually pay to support his fights unlike many "hardcore fans" here who beg or brag about their illegal streams.

3) His PPVs create buzz when they crack 1+ million buys. Success begets success.

4) Young fighters and underexposed veterans have the chance to be seen by more eyeballs on his undercard.

5) Instead of his audience trying to become Youtube stars or streamers or pranksters they might take up boxing.

6) If he wins it shows that training and skills matter more than whatever tough guy trash talk his opponents come up with.

7) If he loses he can be written off as a Youtube star anyway.

8) He uses his channel to expose his audience to the training and work that goes into boxing giving them a new respect for the sport.

There are a lot worse things a Youtube star could be doing than encouraging young people to take up physical sports and giving the sport itself some much needed mainstream exposure. And there's few things more satisfying than the potential to see the latest 30 something NBA/NHL/NFL tough guy get knocked out for thinking their "street cred" meant anything once they laced up a pair of gloves.

[Angeljuice]

I still don't understand how anybody can think Jake Paul is bad for boxing.

1) He brings more eyes to the sport. Especially young men who are otherwise drawn to MMA for their combat fix.

2) His fans actually pay to support his fights unlike many "hardcore fans" here who beg or brag about their illegal streams.

3) His PPVs create buzz when they crack 1+ million buys. Success begets success.

4) Young fighters and underexposed veterans have the chance to be seen by more eyeballs on his undercard.

5) Instead of his audience trying to become Youtube stars or streamers or pranksters they might take up boxing.

6) If he wins it shows that training and skills matter more than whatever tough guy trash talk his opponents come up with.

7) If he loses he can be written off as a Youtube star anyway.

8) He uses his channel to expose his audience to the training and work that goes into boxing giving them a new respect for the sport.

There are a lot worse things a Youtube star could be doing than encouraging young people to take up physical sports and giving the sport itself some much needed mainstream exposure. And there's few things more satisfying than the potential to see the latest 30 something NBA/NHL/NFL tough guy get knocked out for thinking their "street cred" meant anything once they laced up a pair of gloves.

Here is the problem;

1) He brings silly fanboy eyes to the sport, they are more interested in gimmick celebrity fights and so celebrity fights WILL BECOME BOXING.

2) If the big money is on novelty fights, why bother showing the real deal?

3) You introduce millions of idiots who believe celebrity hype and will fill forums saying Jake Paul could beat Mohammed Ali and some Mickey Mouse Club loser is the G.O.A.T.

4) It turns boxing from a legitimate sport to a pantomime, a ridiculous nonsense sport where complete novices who first put on gloves a month ago get paid more than World Champions who have dedicated their lives to the sport.

5) The fallout could seriously damage boxing.

[YoungManRumble]

Money made Prograis change his tune real quick, didn't it?

He seems to have some aspirations of acting too (he's in that new Mark Wahlberg Netflix movie Spenser Confidential) so this can't hurt his Hollywood rep either.

[KillaMane26]

That's cool but 88% of those eyes will leave with him once he done with these fights or lose his clout

[Ray*]

The fans are to be blamed?

Why would anyone blame the fans? Doesn’t matter what the fans think, it’s all up to the people that are meant to be making the fights.

Ray Leonard could have just avoid all his rivals and fight lesser threats if he wanted to. He would still make good money. But he didn’t just think in that way. So not sure why the fans would be blamed for what these boxers are doing nowadays.

[£-4-£]

Anybody who knows anything about Regis knows he's all about making that paper to support his family and community. If he's making x3 his previous purse then power to him. Redkach is a fight everybody expects him to win. I want to see him fight Zepeda next.

[steeve steel]

It does have some serious problems... Not saying these kindsa celebrity bullchit matches are the right answer but something needs to change I reckon.

There you go. Asking the question of whether boxing needs Paul is itself not a good sign.