Boxing purists may not like it, but Jake Paul is very much "The Problem Child" on the pugilistic scene. With 20.3 million subscribers on YouTube and 18.5 mllion combined on Instagram and Twitter, Paul generates massive interest any time he fights.
To the 24-year-old YouTuber's credit, he has backed up his bravado in the ring thus far, having produced four knockouts in five pro fights. One of them included his ethereal, Twitter-trending takeover of a KO of Nate Robinson, as he slept the former NBA star into a merciless meme for the ages back in November 2020.
DAZN News revisits his five boxing matches and unpacks the memorable results and highlights that came with them.
Jake Paul destroys AnEsonGib in pro boxing debut
Paul and fellow YouTuber, AnEsonGib, fought in chief support to the Demetrius Andrade vs. Luke Keeler headliner at The Meridian at Island Gardens in Miami, and live on DAZN, in January 2020. However, they might as well have been slotted in as the main event, as they cultivated more intrigue than the headliner itself.
The shorter Gib came out charging Paul with a very unorthodox style, crouching and trying to advance forward to land punches. Paul, who was trained by "Sugar" Shane Mosley in isolated Big Bear, California, remained composed.
Paul quickly computed the weirdness Gib was presenting him with and countered it with a right hand to the temple for a flash knockdown just one minute and seven seconds into the fight. About 25 seconds later, Paul would score his second knockdown of the fight — this time with a left hook to the head that sent Gib bouncing off the ropes. With Gib on unsteady legs, Paul sensed the end was near and methodically capped his pro debut with a bang.
After calmly backing Gib up with the jab, Paul wobbled his fellow YouTuber with a big right hook before dropping him for the third and final time with another right hand, as the ref stepped in and ended the bout. So much for a fight set for six rounds.
Result: Jake Paul def. AnEsonGib by first-round TKO.
Paul sleeps Nate Robinson in instant epic meme for the ages
Somehow Paul managed to steal the November 28, 2020 night from headliners and boxing legends Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr.. How? With a vicious overhand right that instantly slept Robinson, as the retired NBA three-time Slam Dunk Contest champion fell face first, his body violently bouncing off the canvas like a basketball.
Snoop Dogg said it best: "OH LORD!!!!" The viral KO for the ages instantly spiraled Robinson into Internet infamy, while boosting Paul's ego and boxing profile all in one swoop, setting the stage for what could be the YouTuber's biggest boxing hit yet against Askren.
Result: Paul def. Robinson by second-round KO.
Paul stops Ben Askren at Mercedes-Benz Arena
In what was a very weird boxing event at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Atlanta on Apirl 17th, 2021, Jake Paul continued to send shockwaves across the boxing world.
Instead of facing a YouTuber or NBA player, Paul faced a professional fighter for the first time in the form of Ben Askren who has been inside the cage for both the UFC and Bellator.
However, the MMA star failed to pose any signicant challenge for Paul and was knocked out by 'The Problem Child' after just 61 seconds in the first round.
Result: Paul def. Askren by first-round KO.
Paul beats Tyron Woodley, but is taken the full distance for the first time
Once again Paul challenged another MMA fighter, this time former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley in late August.
Compared to Askren, Woodley posed a bigger threat to Paul and did rock the Paul in the fourth round with a huge right hand.
Backed by a sell-out crowd in his hometown of Cleveland, Paul fought on and dug in for the remaining four rounds. After the final bell, the YouTube star preserved his unbeaten record after he was rewarded the win on the judges' scorecards.
Result: Paul def. Woodley by split decision.
Paul knocks out Woodley in Tampa rematch
Following their first fight four months earlier, no one would have thought Paul would face Woodley for a second time, but after Tommy Fury pulled out of a December 18th fight with a rib injury, it was Woodley who would replace the British light heavyweight in a bid for revenge.
After an intense build-up, the pair went head-to-head for a second time, but intially the contest was struggling to live up to the hype.
There were a number of sloppy punches, clinches and even a takedown, but in the sixth round Paul took advantage of an opening and landed a brutal right hook which sent Woodley straight to the canvas.
At the start of 2021, many wouldn't have thought Paul would be one of boxing's biggest stars and been a candidate for knockout of the year, but following his winning blow in the rematch with Woodley, the 24-year-old is slowly beginning to gain the respect of boxing fans and experts across the world.
Result: Paul def. Woodley by sixth-round KO.