Netflix has released the latest installment in their “Untold” documentary series, “Untold: Jake Paul the Problem Child.” The doc tells the story of Paul’s rise to fame as a YouTube influencer and his pivot to a career as a professional boxer.
While many in combat sports, including UFC President Dana White, have dismissed Paul as a gimmick and a kid just looking for clicks, one legendary boxer, Mike Tyson, has nothing but praise for Paul.
“Listen, he did more for boxing than some of the champions did,” Tyson tells the producers during an interview for the documentary. “I’m a fan of people that know how to put asses in the seats. Those are the guys I look up to.”
“You’re entertaining us. You’re the champ. You’re my hero,” he continues.
Tyson goes on to say that the sport needs to embrace Paul because he will continue to “save boxing” as long he keeps fighting.
This is not the first time Tyson has praised Paul.
During a press conference in 2020 for Tyson’s exhibition fight against Roy Jones Jr, he credited Paul for keeping boxing alive.
“Now we got these YouTubers, 20 million subscribers?” Tyson said, referring to Paul. “Boxing is coming back thanks to these YouTube boxers.”
Nowadays, Paul is doing more for combat sports than just keeping it in the news and selling tickets and pay-per-views. Paul has also brought attention to how much boxers and MMA fighters are paid, calling out White. He is also working to start a union for fighters.
In the Netflix doc, Tyson explains why he enjoys Paul so much.
“I like to see him talking shit,” Tyson says about Paul’s self-promotion style. “The blonde-haired, blue-eyed cute kid is getting mean. ‘Fuck you! You can’t fight, you piece of shit. You’re nothing.’ That’s beautiful. That sells papers.”
Tyson even says he can relate to Paul because the controversial influencer is mistaken as a villain.
“Jake Paul, he’s not a villain,” Tyson says. “He’s an antihero. He’s not a villain. He does hero shit, but he just don’t go by heroes’ laws.”
Many people have dismissed Paul as a fake boxer, but he has one of the biggest names in the sport in his corner.