- Alex McCarthy says Jake and Logan Paul deserve more credit for their careers
- He hailed them for ‘incredible’ way they have ‘blazed a trail’ in combat sports
- Ruthless teenage prospect Moses Itauma is a star in the making – The Hook
Jake and Logan Paul deserve more credit for the ‘incredible’ journeys they have had from social media stars to major names in the combat sports world, Alex McCarthy has told The Hook.
The Paul brothers have gone from being big personalities on YouTube and leading names in both boxing and wrestling – with Jake winning seven of his eight professional fights and Logan becoming United States champion in the WWE.
Jake has gone up against some huge names from the MMA and boxing worlds, with statement wins against Anderson Silva, Tyron Woodley and Nate Diaz on his resume before taking on a difficult challenge against pro boxer Andre August next month.
Logan, meanwhile, has taken on the likes of KSI and Floyd Mayweather and has created a huge empire with his mammoth energy drinks firm Prime.
The pair reportedly have a combined career earnings of £55million, according to Forbes – and despite getting plenty of stick for the quality of fights they produce, McCarthy believes they should be praised for the work they have done.
Mail Sport’s Alex McCarthy has hailed the Paul brothers for the careers they have carved out
He raved about the ‘excellent’ journeys both have enjoyed after starting as YouTube stars
Speaking to Mail Sport podcast The Hook, he said: ‘This might be controversial, but I admire both of the Pauls, Jake and Logan. When they first got into the sport, I was like, “I don’t want to cover these events” and I did not enjoy it.
‘I still don’t think either of them are the most polished fighters you’ll ever see. But I do admire how they’ve made from just their own platforms, essentially, and social media followings and things like that. They’ve curated that and manifested their own dreams.
‘Logan Paul is now wrestling in front of millions of people in WWE and earning big checks. Jake Paul is basically the revolutionary of these influencer and crossover fights. He shouldn’t be getting Conor McGregor’s attention or Canelo Alvarez talking about him in a press conference, but he does.
‘You have to admire [how] they have carved out their own lives that no one else could possibly have done. One hundred percent you have to give them credit for it.
‘In recent memory, Logan and Jake Paul are as influential as anybody. And I would be happy to argue that, you know, don’t admire them the most as fighters, but I do admire exactly what they’ve done to, you know, blaze their own trail is quite incredible.’
The pair have struck gold by making lucratives fights against big names like Anderson Silva (L) and Floyd Mayweather
Jake Paul will take on one of his hardest challenges yet against August on December 15 in Orlando, Florida, as he looks to build on his win against Diaz and climb the professional rankings.
McCarthy’s fellow podcast host Charlotte Daly was also left raving about Jake as she hailed his impact on the sport and his desire to make real changes instead of simply looking to make money from the influencer scene.
‘The thing that I like about Jake in particular is when he stepped into the combat sports world, he wanted to make a change,’ she said. ‘He’s going after people about the health care for athletes and looking after them rather than just dipping his toe in getting his paycheck and getting out.
‘He wants to become thought of as somebody that could be a serious fighter. I have no problems when somebody steps into this sport and gives it their all. The problems I have is when we have that circus element that tarnishes the reputation of boxing. Jake probably was guilty of that at the start, but he’s really turned a corner.
‘I don’t think we’re all going to be talking about him for years to come, but credit to him. And if he wants to give it a go in the real world of boxing, then have at it.’
