Jake Paul’s boxing journey was kickstarted by promoter Eddie Hearn, but the relationship has turned sour since then.
Hearn promoted Paul’s first listed bout – a quick knockout over fellow YouTuber, Ali Eson Gib. The American’s record now sits at 6-0, graduating from content creators to a basketballer and then retired MMA stars.
The British promoter, who heads Matchroom Boxing, hasn’t been involved in any of these other bouts, but has worked with him to stage a historic fight between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano of Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions.
It was the result of that fight in Madison Square Garden – a split decision for Ireland’s Taylor – that saw the relationship break down. In a media interview Paul claimed Hearn was paying off a judge for favourable scoring, and Hearn promptly set about legal action.
Whilst the case is apparently ongoing, the pair are due to work together on the Taylor-Serrano rematch in Dublin on May 20, but there’s no love lost in terms of a personal relationship.
Paul told the MMA Hour that he believes Hearn to be bitter, confused as to why the UK businessman keeps mentioning his name in a negative light.
“It’s interesting. I don’t know. There’s some sort of animosity from his end, where he just is like bitter and has sly, underhand remarks in damn near every interview he does about me. I think he’s got some inner healing and personal healing to do to deal with that anger and whatever his resentment is towards me.”
The American, who is set to fight Tommy Fury on February 26 in Saudi Arabia, claims that Hearn is acting as a gatekeeper for boxing.
His entry into the sport has split fans down the middle, with some claiming it brings a new audience whilst others believe his failure so far to face a bonafide professional boxer – something he seeks to answer with the Fury fight – is unimpressive.
“I’m cool. I don’t hold grudges. I’m a grown ass man. I get people say things, so it’s cool to me that he said things. I don’t care.
But it seems like there’s this constant thing from him where he’s almost trying to protect the boxing community from respecting me in anyway. He’s gatekeeping is what’s really going on. It’s just old. But I’m cool, we can do business no matter what.”
Hearn and Paul will put any differences aside to build Taylor-Serrano 2 this Summer.