In a swift display of dominance, Jake Paul, the influencer-turned-boxer, secured his ninth career victory on Saturday by knocking out former Golden Glove champion Ryan Bourland in the first round. However, former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping raised eyebrows by labeling Bourland as a ‘hand-picked’ opponent.
Bourland’s sparse record prior to the fight raised questions, having only participated in two bouts over the past six years, with his last fight in 2022 resulting in a TKO victory against Santario Martin and his previous bout dating back to 2018.
Reflecting on Paul’s performance, Bisping, sharing his thoughts on his YouTube channel, dubbed Paul as “Jake ‘The Fake’ Paul,” accusing him of orchestrating a deceptive spectacle.
“He pulls the wool over everybody’s eyes, goes out there and knocks out his opponent in Puerto Rico. Did it in round one. Looked impressive. Fair enough, but the man is a fake,” remarked Bisping.
Asserting his stance further, Bisping cautioned against falling for the hype surrounding Paul’s fights, emphasizing the selectivity of his opponents to bolster his winning streak.
He criticized Paul for choosing opponents like Bourland, who, according to Bisping, had relinquished aspirations of professional boxing long ago. Bisping noted Bourland’s background as an Uber driver and Taco Bell employee, portraying him as an underdog outmatched by Paul’s preparation and skill.
Despite Bourland reportedly earning $2 million for the match, Bisping refrained from targeting him excessively, directing the bulk of his criticism towards Paul. “This man is a conman.
He’s a fake,” declared Bisping, condemning Paul’s aspirations of challenging boxing elites like Canelo Alvarez. Bisping dismissed such propositions as unrealistic, emphasizing Canelo’s focus on legitimate challenges rather than spectacle fights.
Bisping’s discontent extended beyond Paul’s choice of opponents, accusing him of undermining the integrity of boxing and deceiving fans who expected genuine competition.
“He’s disrespecting the sport of boxing. He’s disrespecting all the people that worked their way up, but more importantly he’s conning the fans,” Bisping concluded, highlighting the disillusionment among boxing enthusiasts who seek authenticity in the sport.
