Jake Paul has his eyes set on becoming the biggest YouTube star in the world of boxing, surpassing his brother Logan and the likes of British superstar KSI. Ahead of his first professional fight against AnEsonGib on Thursday, January 30, in his own words, he wants to become the ‘pioneer of this space’.
Speaking during filming for Matchroom Boxing’s A Day In The Life series on YouTube, Paul vowed that this fight would not be a one-off.
“I see how big this is becoming,” said Paul.
It’s just the start of what we’re going to see and that’s why I am so excited by it, I want to be the pioneer of this space.
“This is not a one-off stunt for me. I want to keep fighting and I have a list of targets of people that keep talking shit, Antonio Brown, Dillon Danis, other YouTubers – the potential for this is massive and I know that I will be the best ‘influencer-boxer’. I’ve fallen in love with boxing, I was watching my sparring back and just thinking ‘I love fighting’. It takes me back to why roots of being competitive playing football and wrestling.”
The video shows Paul working away in his training camp in Big Bear, California as he prepares to take on British YouTuber AnEsonGib in his second boxing fight. His first bout, the co-main event for the first KSI v Logan Paul fight, was a success as he defeated Deji but now he will lose the head guard as he turns pro.
The video shows him preparing for the fight under legendary fighter ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley doing everything from hill climbs to bear crawls as well as giving an insight into how he is preparing mentally for the fight.
“This is new, it is an untapped vertical for me. I look at myself as an innovator and a pioneer. I came into YouTube at a time when a lot of change needed to happen, and I was that change along with my brother. We went so big and viral and became the biggest.
“Boxing is making a huge comeback and there’s a huge lane for ‘celebrities’ or whatever you want to call us to make huge noise. It’s a business. If we can see the most tickets, we’re going to make the most money and draw the most fans, and no-one can really hate on that. That’s why I want to be the best and most technically skilled ‘influencer-boxer’.”
Paul is fighting on a huge night of boxing which includes WBO World Middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade defending his belts against Irish challenger Luke Keeler and Tevin Farmer fighting JoJo Diaz looking to keep hold of his IBF World Super Featherweight title.
