Jake Paul and UFC President Dana White have never seen eye to eye. The former Disney star has built a substantial boxing career, surprisingly achieving more success than many anticipated. Paul, known as “El Gallo,” is just days away from what could be his toughest and most challenging fight yet—he will face Anthony Joshua in a main event on Netflix on December 19th, after his planned exhibition bout with Gervonta Davis was canceled.
This fight marks a notable change from Paul’s early days in boxing when he primarily fought online personalities, athletes, and wrestling experts. One of the earliest to challenge Paul’s boxing career was Ben Askren, a former Bellator and ONE Championship titleholder. Four years later, the idea of Askren, a seasoned MMA veteran, facing the 28-year-old Paul seems almost unimaginable. Back then, Askren’s former employer showed strong confidence in the MMA star’s chances against Paul.
Jake Paul would have earned $2 million from Dana White after proving the UFC president wrong. Many have doubted Paul’s martial arts skills, especially after he defeated fellow YouTuber and ex-NBA player Nate Robinson in early 2021. Dana White was among the loudest skeptics, famously stating on the “Hot Boxing with Mike Tyson” podcast that he would bet $1 million that Askren would defeat Paul. White dismissed Paul as “just a YouTube kid” and highlighted Askren’s credentials as a decorated wrestler and MMA champion. White confidently said, “I bet a million dollars that he loses this fight.”
Paul accepted the challenge and even proposed increasing the bet to $2 million each, hoping to set up a future fight with White himself, who considers himself a boxer. Although that fight never materialized, Paul knocked out Askren in the first round, marking a significant victory against a veteran MMA fighter.
Dana White has responded to Paul boxing Anthony Joshua with skepticism and apparent glee at the potential outcome. Despite Paul’s progress, White called the Joshua fight “a terrible idea” during a post-fight press conference after UFC 322. However, White also suggested that many fans are eager to see Paul get knocked out, implying that “we’re finally going to get what everyone’s been waiting for.”
Fan Take: This rivalry highlights the merging worlds of boxing, MMA, and celebrity culture, engaging a broader audience in combat sports. Jake Paul’s rise and high-profile fights can bring fresh attention and new fans, but also raise questions about the line between entertainment and traditional fighting merit. For fighting fans, it’s a pivotal moment that could reshape how the sport evolves and attracts audiences.
