What if Jake Paul BEATS Tommy Fury? Pros and Cons for boxing

Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury, which takes place this Sunday in Saudi Arabia, is a new and very different kind of superfight to the norm. An epithet usually reserved for generational battles in traditional boxing like Oscar De La Hoya vs Felix Trinidad or Canelo vs GGG, the moniker nonetheless applies to this weekend’s battle between a novice pro, albeit brother of the best heavyweight in the world, and an influencer facing his first actual boxer. This is partially attributable to the rise of influencer boxing generally and a testament to the way in which both men have built their profile largely outside of in-ring accomplishments.

The influencer boxing trend is so embryonic it is hard to predict, with any confidence, whether it will prove a flash in the pan, a brief lightning strike through boxing’s rich tapestry, or if it offers a compelling indicator of the general direction of the sport. Until now, Jake Paul’s rise and even the long-term deal Misfits Boxing signed with DAZN have developed largely outside the traditional boxing sphere. On Sunday, Paul is facing an actual boxer, one with amateur experience and, crucially, a famous name and commensurate profile. Much like his brother, Logan Paul, signing with WWE and working with wrestling superstar Seth Rollins at the upcoming Wrestlemania, this is a landmark as the lines separating influencer self-promotion and the hardcore boxing space begin to blur.

The bigger questions, for me, surround the implications should this prodigy or quick study in Jake Paul somehow defeat Fury, the son of an ex-pro who has been around boxing his entire life. So let’s look into the crystal ball and look at those consequences, both positive and negative:

Greater participation
A Jake Paul victory makes boxing seem more accessible – the negative implications of this will be discussed momentarily – and attaining a certain degree of prowess wholly realistic. Paul, due to his influencer status and background, seems to appeal to a younger audience than traditional boxing and him winning on Sunday may well push many of these fans over the edge, from absorbed interest to actually entering a gym and donning the gloves. From perhaps dreaming of being the next Jake Paul, maybe some will recalibrate and pursue boxing instead.

Undermining boxing
As alluded to above, if Jake Paul can defeat a real boxer after just a few years’ dedicated training, this suggests anyone can compete in this sport, rather undermining the traditional boxing narrative of needing to start training very young and dedicating your life to all aspects of it. It’s supposed to be the toughest game going, right? The other plausible explanation is that Paul is simply special and his case study exceptional. As a hardcore boxing fan myself, I do feel a little like Fury is protecting our world in this fight, rather than just his own reputation.

More money
Should Paul triumph – and continue to combat real boxers – traditional boxing instantly inherits a proven ppv draw. He can headline lucrative cards, continue to help other fighters by placing them on his shows and bring more money to the sport, some of which, theoretically, trickles down, albeit not all the way to the grass roots.

Paul gets hurt and boxing looks bad
One of the bigger sub-plots in the build-up to Paul vs Fury is the feud between Jake and former world champion Carl Froch. If Paul comes out on top this Sunday, he will likely be emboldened to take on greater, more dangerous challenges and the demand will presumably be great to see him do just that. The concerning side is that Paul will eventually and inevitably bite off more than he can chew. The clear danger is that Jake gets seriously injured but the wider worry is the reputational impact on boxing, already burdened with ample baggage, as a high-profile and dangerous mismatch plays out on the biggest possible stage.