‘Jake Paul is a genius’: Johnny Nelson insists professional boxers should learn from the Problem Child how to ‘put bums in seats’, insisting the American has been GOOD for the sport and more talented fighters should follow his example
Johnny Nelson believes professional boxers should learn from YouTube fighters such as Jake Paul, insisting the American has been good for the sport.
Nelson, a former world champion, hailed YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul as a ‘genius’ despite his defeat to Tommy Fury via a split decision on Sunday.
Writing in his column for Sky Sports, the former boxer urged sport to ‘catch up and wake up’ to the success of YouTube fighters following the lucrative clash in Saudi Arabia which saw the boxing world captivated despite the novice nature of the bout.
Nelson believes that although Paul is not as good at fighting as other professional boxers, he is the ‘second most popular fighter in the world right now barring Floyd Mayweather‘.
‘Jake Paul is a genius, he can fight but he’s a novice,’ Nelson wrote. ‘He’s got world-class attention, world-class money, and he’s managed to get another novice to be paid world-class money. You’re looking ringside, you’re going from Cristiano Ronaldo to Tyson Fury, Mike Tyson, everybody who’s anybody was out there watching this fight.
Johnny Nelson believes professional boxers should learn from YouTube fighters such as Jake Paul
Former world champion Nelson hailed the Problem Child a ‘genius’ who ‘puts bums in seats’
‘Why is this? Because this young man sold himself right. He’s created an image that you’re going to buy into and the numbers prove that.
‘Unfortunately it’s going to impact the future of professional boxing because now the authenticity, the true talent and skill will be lost in this entertainment of the YouTube world and that kind of fighter.
‘There was a world title fight underneath this fight and nobody is talking about it, what does that tell you? These guys put bums on seats. What our sport has to do is catch up, wake up and make something up, let people know who you are, sell yourself like Jake Paul has done.’
Nelson described boxing as becoming so ‘old school, we’re like dinosaurs’. He believes the sport is calling for fighters to brand themselves rather than rely on promoters who have several stars to contend with.
He urged professional fighters to learn from YouTubers, calling on them to emulate Paul’s success in the limelight.
‘Our sport needs to wake up quickly, if we don’t unfortunately we’re going to be saturated with less talented individuals that bring more attention,’ Nelson added. ‘This is where the problem is.’
Nelson believes boxing needs to ‘wake up quickly’ to the success of YouTube boxing stars
Boxing fans can get used to seeing Paul with the Ohio-born fighter previously declaring his intentions to execute a three-fight plan in 2023.
In anticipation of a victory over Fury, the Youtuber-turned-boxer announced he was keen on a bout with ex-UFC star Nate Diaz and fellow internet sensation KSI.
The YouTube star told BT Sport: ‘We’ve got a big, big year ahead. There’s a massive offer out to Nate Diaz and his team to do one boxing match and one MMA match.
‘And then, you know the kid KSI, keeps on talking and he says that December, he wants to fight.’
