Jake Paul, the YouTuber-turned-boxer, posted a video on Instagram that's got everyone talking. He tried to face off with a gorilla to settle a heated social media debate about whether 100 men could take on one of these powerful primates.
In the video, Paul starts off sipping an energy drink while a gorilla munches on bananas nearby. He then attempts some boxing moves close to the animal. The gorilla grunts and chases Paul, who quickly runs away.
Paul's stunt comes just before his upcoming fight on June 28th against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. This match is Paul's biggest challenge yet as he aims to become a world champion.
The video got mixed reactions from Paul's followers. Some found it funny, while others wondered if it was AI-generated. One user joked that Paul should face the gorilla when it retires, poking fun at Paul's recent controversial fight with retired boxer Mike Tyson, who's 27 years older than him.
Chavez Jr., Paul's next opponent, is no slouch in the ring. He's a former world champion and the son of Mexican boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez. In his last fight on November 15, 2024, Chavez Jr. won a six-round cruiserweight bout against Darren Till on the undercard of Paul's fight with Tyson.
While Paul's video was meant to be entertaining, it's worth noting some facts about gorillas. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), gorillas are gentle giants that share 98.3% of their genetic code with humans. They're our closest cousins after chimpanzees and bonobos.
The Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe foundation points out that gorillas are typically shy and reserved around people. They might react defensively if surprised or threatened, with silverback males capable of intimidating roars and bluff charges.
You can check out Paul's gorilla video on his Instagram to see the stunt for yourself. Whether it's real or not, it's got people talking and that's exactly what Paul wanted as he gears up for his next big fight.
