By Daniel Ocean: Yes. You read that correctly. Jake Paul, in only two professional fights, has proven to be the greatest prospect the sport of boxing has even seen. Why, you ask? Because simple math says so.
The Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr card sold an estimated 1.2 million PPV’s. By looking at this number, we know two things: Eddie Hearn is somewhere in an English pub drinking himself to death wondering how he missed the opportunity to promote this event that was co-headlined by a Youtuber, and Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr are not solely responsible for these numbers.
Let’s take a look at the PPV numbers for recent boxing events.
- Davis Vs Santa Cruz: 200K – 2225K
- Charlo Vs Derevyanchenko/ Charlos Vs Rosario: 100K – 120K
- Pacquiao Vs Thurman: 500K
- Pacquiao Vs Broner 400K
- Spence vs. Porter: 360K
- Spence Vs Garcia: 360K
- Wilder vs Ortiz II: 225K
- Wilder Vs Fury: 325K
- Wilder Vs Fury: 800K-850K
- Average: 373,889
I did not include Canelo Alvarez’s PPV numbers because let’s face it, neither Tyson nor Roy Jones Jr is a superstar of that level.
These numbers show that even today’s hottest attractions in boxing generate no more than 360K in PPV buys. Reasons can include failing to win over key international markets the way Manny Pacquiao has or the way Deontay Wilder Vs. Tyson Fury II did. We can safely assume that 54-year old Tyson isn’t exactly carrying multiple nations behind him or that the Russians failed to come out in full force to support their national hero Roy Jones Jr. Generously, we will allocate 400K of the 1.2 million PPV buys to the main event. That leaves us with 800,000 PPV buys generated by Jake Paul and Nate Robinson.
The profitable Youtuber-turned-Boxing Superstar Jake Paul is on the same path as other P4P kings. The criticism that Jake Paul receives is that he is merely a spectacle or a circus that people tune in to watch. Others criticize Jake Paul’s opposition. While Nate Robinson is still dangerous considering his athletic background, he did not have any real boxing pedigree. The same could be said for Jake Paul’s first opponent, Ali Eson Gib. However, Jake Paul is doing exactly all other fighters do at the prospect level, he is learning on the Job.
The level of opposition as a prospect in boxing is designed to allow young fighters to gain experience and build a fan base. GGG’s first opponent was Gabor Balogh with a record of 1-22-3. Balogh now boasts a record of 3-112-5. For Deontay Wilder’s 4th fight, he faced Charles Brown who held a record of 6-15-1, and for his 13th fight, Wilder fought Harold Sconiers who had a record of 17-20-2. For Canelo’s 16th fight, he fought Sean Holley who held a record of 8-21-2. In comparison, Jake Paul’s level of opposition were all making their professional debut, making these fights more competitive.
You don’t have to like Jake Paul and what he represents. His commercial performance in boxing though, makes him the most lucrative prospect at the moment, and if he keeps winning, the biggest crossover star the sport has ever seen.
“This is Team 10, b****, who the hell are flippin’ you?”
-Jake Paul