Logan Paul and fellow wrestler Ricochet were standing on either side of a ladder that was in the ring at WWE Money in the Bank on July 1 at The O2 in London. Another wrestler in the match, LA Knight, knocked the ladder over while both men were still on it.
Paul and Ricochet landed awkwardly on the ring ropes, messing up the planned spot. They were supposed to come down the ladder, sit on the top rope, and then Ricochet was supposed to grab Paul and do a flip with him – a move called the Spanish Fly – on tables set up outside the ring.
The original idea was unsafe enough. What happened was worse.
Neither Paul nor Ricochet were off balance, but Ricochet caught Paul and still managed to spin off the second rope. Paul almost landed headfirst on the table, but luckily managed to tuck his chin in at the last second. Paul had no structural damage to his body, but the landing severely cut his arm and now he has a scar.
“The timing wasn’t right, and that crazy Ricochet decided to make a move anyway,” Paul told ESPN. “It almost became a really unsafe moment. But at the end of the day, that’s what I’m here for, man.
“I’m here to create these great moments.”
It was just another day in the life of the Paul brothers, who went from making viral videos on Vine in 2014 to huge YouTube stars and now pursue lucrative, controversial careers in combat sports.
Logan, 28, went from boxing Floyd Mayweather to creating some of the biggest moments in WWE’s scripted world, including two key matches at WrestleMania.
Jake Paul, 26, has knocked out former UFC boxing champions and is one of the biggest financial attractions in the medium, packing arenas and selling hundreds of thousands of pay-per-view units. What’s more, the younger Paul has become a seasoned businessman, working part-time as a combat sports promoter and marketer. He partnered with advisor Nakisa Bidarian to launch Most Valuable Promotions in 2021.
The 20-year-old siblings first dominated the fighting and mock-fighting landscape on Aug. 5. Logan fought the aforementioned Ricochet at WWE SummerSlam in front of nearly 50,000 fans at Ford Field in Detroit. Jake fought former UFC box office star Nate Diaz at the American Airlines Center in Dallas in one of the best-selling boxing shows of the year.
“Without sounding too arrogant, the story unfolds in real time before your eyes,” Logan said. “Will you choose to tune in and watch? Or hear about it after the fact? It’s never happened before.”
Logan and Ricochet showed off even more athleticism during their match at SummerSlam, and if that wasn’t enough, Logan flew from Detroit to Dallas on a private jet – still in his wrestling gear – to escort Jake to his match with Diaz.
“I’m not changing, I’m not getting a physical, I’m just flying straight to the fucking jet,” Logan said of his SummerSlam plans. “No shower, no nothing. Instant A to B to C. … I’ve never missed a Jake Paul fight and I’m not going to miss a Jake Paul fight. He’s my little brother and I want to support him in the most essential moments of his life.”
On October 14, Logan will be back in action, facing Dillon Danis in a boxing ring (2 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV). After that, he says, he’ll be back in WWE, preparing for his next large story.
Many people roll their eyes when the Paul brothers come up. They’ve had their share of controversies. Logan came under fire in 2017 for posting a video of a dead body in a Japanese forest known for suicides on YouTube, for which he later apologized. Jake has had several run-ins with the law, including the FBI, which searched his home as part of an investigation into his alleged involvement in the Arizona mall riots. Those charges were dropped. Both Paul brothers have been charged with cryptocurrency fraud.
The fact that they are polarizing only works to their advantage. Controversy plays well on social media, and both brothers have gained popularity despite alleged shady dealings.
When it comes to combat sports, there’s no denying how talented they are. Both are exceptional athletes who had a history as amateur wrestlers. Logan fought all eight rounds with Mayweather and gained recognition for his incredible skills in WWE. Jake isn’t a championship-level fighter, but he’s 7-1 in just four years as a pro, facing competition that’s much better and more well-known than the typical boxers at his level of experience.
“I keep joking that we’re the fresh Kardashians, but in a lot of ways I really do,” Jake said.
“We’re the Kardashians, but with talent.”
Logan and his business partner and fellow YouTuber KSI (who is in the main event this weekend in a fight with Tommy Fury) have a successful sports drink business in Prime, a major UFC sponsor. Jake’s Betr is a growing sports betting app and pseudo-media outlet with podcasts and other content. Jake is also a partner in MMA promotion PFL and plans to make his MMA debut in the future. Jake has said that his goal is to become a billionaire by the time he turns 30, and that it’s within reach.
“I think we’re just now starting to realize how crazy this is,” Jake said of himself and his brother.
The brothers do a lot of different things, but their greatest talent seems to be understanding the secrets of marketing in the age of social media.
“I think Jake and I are just really good marketers,” Logan said. “We are the product we sell.”
It makes sense that both would venture into combat sports, where promotion is just as essential as skill in the ring or cage to put on a successful event. Jake isn’t the best boxer in the world, but it’s fair to say he’s one of the most watched and best-selling.
Logan made sure to have a front row seat to his brother’s fight with Diaz, catching a flight after his own aerial stunts at SummerSlam. He admitted that the trip to Dallas wasn’t just to support his brother. It’s another chance to create content, another way for the brothers to dominate the viral market during a weekend in the spotlight.
“I think it’s an incredible story and a challenge,” Logan said. “Can I get there in time?
In a clash of forces between two world title contenders, NABO welterweight titleholder Alexis “Lex” Rocha (25-2-0, 16 KO) will put his skills to the test against undefeated knockout and NABF welterweight titleholder Raul “El Cugar “. Curiel (15-0, 13 KO).
The 10-round main event will take place on Saturday, December 14, live from the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California, and will be broadcast worldwide on DAZN.
“‘The best versus the best’ is Golden Boy’s mantra and that’s what fans will see as Rocha and Curiel take on everything that’s on the table,” said President and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “Rocha is a veteran whose goal is to win the world title, Curiel is an undefeated blue-chip prospect with huge potential. It’s really a 50/50 fight and I’m looking forward to it.”
Tickets for the Rocha vs. match Curiel will go on sale on Friday, October 11 at 10 a.m. PT and will be priced at $100, $75, $50 and $25, excluding applicable service fees. A confined number of Golden Boy VIP Experience tickets will also be available, including exclusive merchandise and fight night upgrades. Standard and VIP tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com, Toyota-arena.com, Goldenboy.com or at the Toyota Arena box office from Monday to Friday from 12:00 to 16:00
“I’ve seen Raul Curiel all these years and he never once mentioned my name,” Alexis Rocha said. “After my last defeat, he suddenly became interested in fighting me. If he thinks I’ve lost a step or somehow had an simple fight, he’s in for a rude awakening. I can’t wait to make a statement and show the world what I’m capable of.”
Santa Ana, California Rep. Alexis “Lex” Rocha comes from a struggling family. The younger brother of Ronny Rios, he was the youngest fighter to win a gold medal at the Junior Olympics at the age of 14 in 2012 and caught the attention of the boxing world by becoming a six-time national champion during his amateur career. Rocha signed with Golden Boy in January 2016 and made his professional debut in March 2016, defeating Jordan Rosario at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles. Since then, he has amassed an enviable record of powerful knockouts over top contenders and plans to return to world title contention, with his last fight being a victory over undefeated Santiago Dominguez on July 19 last year.
“The fans can expect a war,” said Raul Curiel. “I’m going to prepare well to put on a great show. This will be the most essential fight of my career so far. I know Alexis is a great fighter, a good opponent and will also show up prepared. My focus is on Alexis and if I can beat him, I know it will give me a chance to fight for the world championship.
Former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos approached promoter Eddie Hearn asking for more massive fights.
Kambosos has signed a co-promotional deal with Eddie Hearn, under which the Greek-Australian slugger will continue his association with DiBella Entertainment Inc. and his own company, Ferocious Promotions.
The 21-3 star will move up to the super lightweight division of Matchroom Boxing’s lively division. He aims to become a two-weight world champion in early 2025, and as part of the deal, a title fight is promised as long as he continues to win.
Since his stunning victory over Teofimo Lopez, Kambosos has never shied away from competing against the best. Those three losses on his resume came to Devin Haney [twice] and Vasily Lomachenko, all at home and all for world titles.
The 31-year-old is now set to face compatriot Liam Paro after defending his IBF title against Richardson Hitchins in December in Puerto Rico.
“I am thrilled to be working with Matchroom Boxing. I am excited to have signed a three-way promotional cooperation agreement with my long-time promoter DiBella Entertainment Inc. and Ferocious Promotions,” Kambosos said.
“I made great success and history when I moved up the Matchroom shows by winning my UK elimination fight against Lee Selby. The most noteworthy and unforgettable is my victory against Teofimo at Madison Square Garden in Up-to-date York to become the 135-pound world champion.
“I am officially announcing that I will be moving up to 140 pounds and signing with Matchroom will ensure my continued success and the legacy I want to leave in the sport of boxing.”
Hearn, who adds an experienced campaigner to his stable, added: “I am delighted to welcome George to the team. George’s victory over Teofimo tore up the script and showed that George was the man for the massive time. He has proven to be a huge attraction in Australia and one of the real driving forces behind the rapid growth of boxing Down Under.
“The 140-pound division is full of massive names and massive potential fights. Adding George to the mix only elevates the level, and a possible fight with Liam Paro is a truly appetizing prospect. If Liam manages to win in a great fight against Richardson on December 7th [the fight could be on].
Lou DiBella, who has worked with Kambosos for years, said: “I’m glad I was able to make a deal with my antique buddy Eddie to work with George Kambosos Jr. and Ferocious Promotions.
“Throughout his career, George has been a fighter who has never shied away from a challenge, and now he wants to test himself against top junior welterweights.
Matchroom works with top 140-pounders, including George’s compatriot Liam Paro, and, like DiBella Entertainment, is heavily invested in Australia.
“It’s a natural partnership,” added the Up-to-date Yorker.
One of the hottest topics surrounding Mike Tyson’s return at the age of 58 was the possibility of the boxing legend scoring a knockout of Jake Paul.
WBN has weighed in on this topic several times, questioning the validity of five-second training clips that revealed nothing about Tyson’s abilities at this overdue age. One of the most intriguing observations during the preparations was the opinion of UFC commentator Daniel Cormier.
Speaking on his show “Funky and the Champ,” Cormier reflected on Tyson’s social media videos and offered an informed opinion on the meaning of the clips.
“I understand that [he is in amazing shape at 58]and I understand what he is saying [he feels as though he can compete]– Cormier said. “And I agree that when he hits the pads with Rafael Cordeiro, it looks like there’s still something left in him.
“But then I watch Jake Paul fight Mike Perry. I saw Jake Paul get overwhelmed to the point where he started to feel uncomfortable. It looked like Mike Perry had a chance. But Jake has a reserve tank he can go to and benefit from because he’s 28 years ancient. Then he comes back and finally finishes Mike Perry.
“At the beginning of the fight, Mike Perry gets beaten up and dropped. He looks trained and unmatched. This worries me because what if it looks like a 58-year-old man fighting a 28-year-old man while Mike can’t employ the backup tank to stay and compete with this newborn kid? I think it’s a failure for Jake Paul because if you beat Mike Tyson, everyone will love him.
He added: “What if Mike knocks him out? It’s over. Everything is ready. This would be the backfire of all time. If he gets knocked out, nothing like that has ever happened in the history of the sport.”
Unfortunately for Tyson, this revenge backfired spectacularly, as the former heavyweight champion’s return was the only event that bombed. Tyson had nothing left twenty years after he had nothing left in his tank and no desire to box in his mind.
Paul parlayed this into a money-making scheme that would forever be a success for him and his company, but would be poorly received by the die-hard boxing fraternity.
Cormier’s words resonate, especially after what happened in the ring when Mike Tyson struggled to shift into first gear, warning former fighters thinking about returning after 50.
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