Teddy Atlas on Logan and Jake Paul Respecting Boxing
What’s All The Noise About?
Two brothers from the social media world have been making waves in boxing. Logan and Jake Paul rose to fame through platforms like Vine, YouTube, and through acting roles on the Disney Channel. Since they burst on the scene in 2013, they’ve set to work creating an impressive media empire. So why is the boxing world paying attention to these internet stars?
It’s because recently, both brothers have turned their attention to the world of combat sports. Logan, 26, has a record of 0-1 as a professional after facing off against fellow YouTube star KSI in November of 2019, where he lost by split decision. Following in the footsteps of his older brother, Jake Paul challenged YouTuber AnEsonGib in December of 2019. Paul scored a decisive victory by TKO in just over two minutes. He’s since gone on to defeat retired NBA player Nate Robinson and former UFC fighter Ben Askren, both with convincingly violent finishes.
Now, Logan & Jake are in the middle of the media flurry over this weekend’s exhibition bout between Floyd Mayweather and Logan Paul. Don’t worry; you read that right: Logan Paul (0-1) squared off with Floyd “Money” Mayweather (50-0) this weekend, on June 6th. Given their wild antics and meteoric rise to fame, it’s easy to see how the Paul brothers could have many critics. Still, many voices in boxing, like Teddy Atlas, argue that the YouTube stars are good for the sport.
The Voice Of Experience
Teddy Atlas was a Golden Gloves Champion in his youth, but turned to coaching early on after a serious injury to his back. He went on to become a well known trainer and commentator. In the early part of his training career, Atlas worked with Mike Tyson. Recently, he has helped to improve the skills of boxers like Alexander Povetkin and Timothy Bradley. His work as a coach and commentator for ESPN have made him one of the foremost voices in the sport.
Two Sides To Every Story
In the video above, Atlas breaks down his impressions of how the Paul brothers have impacted the world of boxing in just two short years. While he acknowledges that there is frustration and bitterness in the combat sports community, he is clear in his belief that the controversial brothers could represent a revival for boxing. Keep reading for a breakdown of Atlas’ main points on the topic, including the reasons why he thinks that the brothers are here to stay.
The Downside, According to Some:
- They’re disrespecting the sport
- They haven’t paid their dues
- They make too much money compared to other fighters
- They aren’t serious about boxing
The Upside, According to Teddy Atlas:
- The Paul brothers are marketing geniuses with nearly 45 million combined subscribers to their YouTube channels.
- They bring excitement to the sport
- They help regular people connect to an unrelatable sport in a new way.
- They are serious about it: real sparring, real training, real knockouts.
What’s Next for the Paul Brothers?
Having just gone the distance with one of the greatest boxers of our time, Logan Paul will take a much-needed rest from the sport of boxing to focus on building his media empire in other ways.
Jake Paul is scheduled to fight former UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodly on August 28th, just over two months from now, in a cross promotion between Showtime Championship Boxing and Paul’s own startup company, MVP: Most Valuable Promotions. This fight comes on the heels of Paul’s knockout victory over former UFC fighter Ben Askren, and is sure to be Jake’s toughest challenge yet
If you enjoyed Teddy Atlas’ breakdown of Jake and Logan’s impact on boxing, be sure to check out more of his instructional videos. He goes way beyond just covering techniques in his teaching to include discussions of boxing philosophy and mindset.
