PAUL GOOD
Eddie Hearn says Jake Paul is ‘good for boxing’ but ‘a DISASTER for the UFC’ amid YouTuber’s feud with Dana White
EDDIE HEARN said Jake Paul is 'good for boxing' but 'a DISASTER for the UFC' amid his ongoing feud with Dana White.
Hearn promoted Paul's first professional fight, in 2020 with a win over online rival 'AnEsonGib'.
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He has since improved to 5-0, headlining pay-per-views and even becoming a boxing manager.
The YouTuber-turned prizefighting star is now promoting Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor's women's super-fight alongside Hearn.
And the British matchmaker admitted Paul's impact on the sport is only positive, despite his mass detractors.
Hearn said on : “I think fighters, because of what they’ve sacrificed, sometimes hold it against Jake Paul and say, ‘Well, I’ve been grinding in the gym for 15 years!’
"Yeah, but you’re not good enough and you haven’t built the profile that he’s built.
"Why shouldn’t he be allowed to do that? He’s put in the work in the gym. He’s fallen in love with the sport, genuinely, and I think he’s good for boxing.
"I think he brings a different kind of audience.”
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Two of Paul's four knockouts came against former UFC pair Ben Askren, 37, and ex-champion Tyron Woodley, 39.
And the American celebrity has since been embroiled in an online rivalry with UFC president White.
Paul has constantly accused the MMA promoter of underpaying his fighters and even released a diss track to hit out at the UFC.
Hearn said: “There will be more pressure on the organisation as time goes by, especially with the voice and noise of someone like Jake Paul.
“Jake Paul’s a disaster for those guys. [He is sincere], but also I think he’s got a bee in his bonnet and he’s having fun with it, and I think he’s on a mission.
"But do I think he feels that UFC fighters are underpaid? Yeah, for sure.”
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