Jake Paul threw jabs at Canelo Alvarez after a press conference for his upcoming fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. The YouTuber-turned-boxer claimed he outpunched the Mexican superstar and could beat him in the ring.
Paul, known as the "Problem Child," spoke to Fight Hub TV following the event at Avalon Hollywood Theater in Los Angeles. He compared his recent exhibition bout against Mike Tyson to Canelo's latest fight.
"Come on, I threw more punches against Mike Tyson in eight two-minute rounds than he did in a 12-round fight,"Paul said, referring to Canelo's recent win over William Scull.
The 27-year-old's clash with Tyson drew mixed reactions due to the age gap between the fighters. Still, it proved a box office hit. Paul threw 278 punches in that bout.
Canelo's fight with Scull faced criticism for its lack of action. The two fighters combined for just 275 punches over 12 rounds - the lowest ever recorded in a full-length fight.
Paul didn't stop at comparing punch stats. He also claimed he could defeat the four-division world champion.
"A thousand percent without a doubt. I would have beaten Canelo, and this is what I've been saying: he's over the hill,"Paul stated confidently.
This isn't the first time Paul has called out Canelo. Previous talks of a potential matchup fizzled out after Canelo signed a four-fight deal with Saudi adviser Turki Alalshikh. That deal could see Canelo face opponents like Scull and Terence Crawford.
Paul's continued provocation of Canelo, despite no immediate fight prospects, shows his desire to challenge boxing's establishment. The YouTuber sees Canelo as a prized target in boxing circles.
Paul's transition from novelty act to legitimate contender represents a shift in the sport. His approach clashes with traditional boxing, creating tension between the old guard and new entertainment-focused fighters.
The "Problem Child" will face Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. next month as he continues his boxing journey. Meanwhile, Canelo will look to silence critics in his upcoming bouts under the new Saudi deal.
