Jake Paul's latest knockout victory against Ryan Bourland has stirred both applause and criticism, with former UFC champion Michael Bisping being one of the vocal critics.
Paul, with a record of 9-1 and 6 knockouts, added another first-round victory to his resume in the 200-pound bout against Bourland in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Despite Bourland's 19 professional fights, the disparity in skill became evident once the bell rang.
Bisping didn't mince words in expressing his disappointment with the matchup on his YouTube channel. "Jake Paul was always destined to win this fight, and you are the suckers if you paid for this fight, and I know most people didn’t," Bisping asserted. "Unfortunately, the opponent was utter dog sh*t and couldn’t make it through one round. How was he able to get it done? Because he’s just so good."
The former UFC champion criticized Bourland's performance, highlighting the perceived lack of skill and the one-sided nature of the contest. Despite Paul's dominance, Bisping acknowledged the YouTuber's prowess but raised concerns about the level of competition he chooses.
"He expected a second round, but my God, the guy did it in Round 1. I mean, this guy’s the future. He was swinging punches like an absolute maniac, leaving openings to get countered all day long against a decent boxer. But he doesn’t have that threat because he wasn’t going up against a trained pro," Bisping remarked.
Paul's post-fight callout of undisputed 168-pound champion Canelo Alvarez drew further criticism from Bisping. The former UFC star dismissed the possibility of such a matchup, questioning the credibility of Paul's challenges.
"He’s calling out Canelo because he knows damn well that fight is not going to happen," Bisping stated emphatically. "Canelo Alvarez would not wipe his ass with a Jake Paul payday. He doesn’t want a circus sideshow, freakshow fights, OK? He is disrespecting the sport of boxing."
Bisping raised concerns not just about Paul's choice of opponents but also about the impact on the sport's integrity and the fans. "He’s disrespecting all the people that worked their way up but more importantly, he’s conning the fans. If Ryan Bourland is your next Uber driver, give him five stars and give him a good tip. Beating people that you know you can beat, that’s called being a bully."
As the boxing and MMA community continues to debate Jake Paul's impact on the sport, critics like Michael Bisping make it clear that there are concerns beyond the spectacle of his victories.