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This past Sunday, Jake Paul finally locked horns with longtime rival Tommy Fury in a highly anticipated boxing match that's been two years in the making. The two men pitted their undefeated records on the line in a thrilling, back-and-forth bout. Despite a knockdown late in the fight, 'The Problem Child' tasted defeat.
It was the first loss of his professional boxing career. Meanwhile, his opponent, 'TNT' extended his unbeaten run to 9 bouts. While there's been talk of an immediate rematch, Paul can explore other avenues. Not too long ago, he announced his plans for an MMA debut after signing with the PFL.
Tempted as he may be to avenge his first and thus far only loss against Tommy Fury, the 26-year old would be better served focusing on his MMA debut. This list explores five reasons why that is the case.
#5. Jake Paul's ceiling as a boxer is clear
There isn't much more that Jake Paul can hope to realistically achieve as a professional boxer. Despite his previous attempts at goading Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez into a bout, he hasn't done nearly enough to justify a title fight. From a technical standpoint, he is better than his brother and KSI.
'The Problem Child' steps in with his jab and uses it as a measuring tool to line up his overhand-right. The logic behind it is simple. If he can hit his opponents with his jabs, he can hit them with an overhand-right. Furthermore, he often fights using a low stance, which enables him to commit more weight to his jabs.
He is also blessed with a natural abundance of knockout power, having flatlined the likes of Tyron Woodley. Unfortunately, there isn't much else to dissect regarding his skills. He's never going to reach the level of a world champion, so there's nothing else for him to accomplish.
#4. The only other boxing match that makes sense for him is a bout with KSI
There's not much else for Jake Paul to do in the world of professional boxing. While he intends to avenge his loss to Tommy Fury, the only other viable matchup for him is a grudge match against KSI. The two have been chirping at each other for years now, with 'The Problem Child' accusing his rival of avoiding a fight.
His boxing career has peaked and the experiment can't go much further than a bout with KSI due to their enmity. This is a storyline that can be easily promoted to rake in viewers, especially since neither man will find a more high-profile opponent than each other. There's no one else for Jake Paul to face.
If he insists on remaining a professional boxer and not only avenges his loss to Fury but defeats KSI, he'll have no other choice but to start facing professional boxers who will offer disproportionately difficult challenges that he's ill-equipped to deal with.
#3. There is still interest in Jake Paul's MMA career
Much of the criticism that Jake Paul received was that he deliberately handpicked opponents who were out of their element. Ben Askren, while a mixed martial artist and former Olympian, is a wrestler at heart. His striking has never earned him praise and he was even outstruck by Demian Maia, of all fighters.
Furthermore, he is much smaller and older than Paul as well as recovering from major hip surgery. Meanwhile, Tyron Woodley was even older than 'Funky' and also a wrestler. In MMA, his striking only worked due to low kicks and the threat of takedowns, which afforded him enough space and time to land overhand-rights.
In boxing, neither low kicks nor takedowns are permissible. Anderson Silva, on the other hand, is nearly 50. So there's significant interest in Jake Paul facing MMA fighters in their element since boxers rarely cross over into the world of mixed martial arts.
Plenty of fighters are eager to test his limits in MMA due to the years he spent taunting them. He has been dared numerous times to back up his claims, like his claim that he believes he's a better striker than 99.9% of MMA fighters. After signing with the PFL, he can bank on this history to build interest in his bouts.
#2. Jake Paul has ready-made matchups in MMA
Countless MMA fighters are eager to welcome 'The Problem Child' into the cage. Unfortunately, most of them are tied down with their UFC contracts. Some fighters, however, are either free agents or have already signed with the PFL. Anthony Pettis, for example, is currently a PFL fighter.
He has already offered to welcome Jake Paul with a fight. Alternatively, Nate Diaz is a bigger box office draw and remains a free agent. His history with the Paul brothers has been contentious, with Stockton's finest once warning 'The Problem Child' that he'd one day be faced with a real fighter.
His MMA bouts would be extremely easy to market due to this. Furthermore, both Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley are free agents. The two men have both lost to the social media star in boxing. The possibility of avenging their losses in MMA would make for an intriguing buildup and overall story that the PFL could sell.
#1. A second loss to Tommy Fury would be a deathknell
It's one thing to lose to an opponent once, but it's a different ordeal when a fighter has to recover from back-to-back losses to the same opponent. In his post-fight interview, Jake Paul claimed to have felt flat as well as falling ill twice in the middle of his training camp and even injured his arm.
While he quickly clarified that his statements weren't meant as an excuse, they weren't anything but. His decision to explain away his loss as being a potential result of other variables beyond his control only opens him up to severe criticism and mockery if he loses in a rematch.
At that point, he'll have no other excuse. A second loss would be far more damaging to his brand and overall image. While he can claim that he was the victim of an unfair split-decision, a more lopsided loss to the same opponent will negatively impact his drawing ability and damage his prospects as a fighter.
