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?
Anthony Joshua suffered the fourth defeat of his 11-year career on Saturday night in a British showdown at Wembley Stadium in London, with Joshua knocked down four times and knocked out in the fifth round.
However, if history is any indication, Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) will be looking to rematch IBF heavyweight titleholder Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs) in hopes of getting revenge. especially since he has already put an end to any talk of retirement.
After suffering his first career loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. in June 2019, Joshua exacted revenge on Ruiz in December 2019 with a crushing unanimous decision victory. After a unanimous decision loss to Oleksandr Usyk, Joshua was given another chance against the Ukrainian in 2022 but lost via split decision.
Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn, the 35-year-old Joshua’s promoter, suggested AJ would be keen to fight Dubois again despite the one-sided defeat.
“I think so [Joshua] “He’s going to need some rest, and it’s a risky fight. This guy is gaining confidence all the time.
“He’ll believe he can hurt Dubois. He’ll believe he can beat him. But full credit to Daniel Dubois. He deserves all the credit. It was a great performance.
“We have another fight with Riyadh in the season and Alalshikh Türkiye, [chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia], Daniel Dubois is part of that plan, but it could just as easily be Tyson Fury or another heavyweight.
“I think 2025 is going to be an captivating year for Anthony Joshua, either way, but he’s definitely going to come back and whether he’s fighting Daniel Dubois, Tyson Fury or whoever, you’re going to have a good time.”
Former two-time heavyweight champion Joshua was knocked down in rounds one, three, four and five and never recovered from his first-round assault.
“That was the first round. Then he fought with heart and desire,” Hearn said. “I’m so proud because he never gave up. His legs were cheating him, but he kept trying.
“When you’re in there with a huge puncher, that’s what can happen. He never stopped trying to get up, even when he couldn’t get up at the end.
“Daniel deserves recognition, he is a true world champion. Congratulations to him.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn says Anthony Joshua will want another “massive fight” after the former two-time heavyweight champion vowed to continue despite shocking defeat to Daniel Dubois on Saturday in London.
Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs) repeatedly knocked Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) down at Wembley Stadium before finally landing a powerful right hook in the fifth round that sent his English rival to the mat, handing him the fourth loss of his career. Dubois defended his IBF belt.
Joshua appeared at the post-fight press conference and assured that he will continue fighting.
“You’re probably asking, ‘Do I still want to fight?’ Of course I want to keep fighting,” Joshua said.
“That’s what I said, that we tried to succeed and we failed. What does that mean now? Are we going to run away? [Or] Will we live to fight another day?
Dubois charged forward and caught his opponent off guard, landing a powerful left hook that dropped Joshua for the first time slow in Round 1, capping a near-perfect opening that stunned the Wembley crowd – and Joshua.
“We also have to give credit to our opponent, Daniel. Congratulations to him and his team, and thanks to my team for the way they prepared for me. There were a few mistakes there, but that’s the nature of the game,” Joshua said. “Tiny margins can cost you a lot at the highest level.”
Hearn stated in the ring that the rematch clause would likely be activated, but explained at the post-fight press conference that Joshua had signed a deal to fight next season in Riyadh and would likely want a rematch.
Hearn said Joshua is keen to take part in critical fights to finish his career and that another pre-fight fight is unlikely.
“We have another fight with Riyadh Season and Turki Alalshikh and Daniel Dubois are part of that plan, but it could easily be Tyson Fury or another heavyweight,” Hearn said. “I don’t think it’s a career-ending fight for him, but he’s in the final chapters of his career and it was a massive blow because we wanted to win tonight and fight the winner of Fury and [Oleksandr] Usyk.
“I know he’s going to want a massive fight, I don’t think he’s going to want to come back in February or March for a round, Helenius or Franklin or those types of fights. I feel like we’ve done that and the next decision is going to be very critical.”
Eddie Hearn believes the second fight between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois will be another highlight of the season in Riyadh after they exercised their rematch clause.
There will be many fans interested in watching the Joshua-Dubois rematch because they will want to see if AJ can avenge his loss. Of course, some fans will want to see if Dubois can retire Joshua with a second knockout.
That’s what makes the rematch intriguing and likely to generate massive PPV numbers. Hearn hasn’t said anything about whether Joshua will exercise his rematch clause immediately or wait until he faces Tyson Fury. That’s the fight the public wants to see.
Joshua (28-4, 23 KOs) will be off until the end of the year following his fifth-round knockout loss to IBF heavyweight champion Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs) before returning in 2025.
Hearn likes the effort Joshua put in after being hurt in the first round and getting back up in the fourth and fifth. However, by then Joshua was already “damaged goods” and his punch resistance evaporated after the first round.
“He never stopped trying to land those massive punches to knock Dubois out, even when he had no legs, and that’s unbelievable heart,” Eddie Hearn told Stomping Grounds about Anthony Joshua still trying to win, even though he has been in impoverished form since the first round.
Joshua didn’t land many rights in the fight because he looked cautious and had too much muscle in his arms. AJ should have been leaner and more aggressive in this fight. The passive fighting didn’t work for him and it allowed Dubois to gain confidence. If Joshua had hurt Dubois early, it would have discouraged him from throwing.
“You saw him saying, ‘Come on,’ and he was waiting for him and he was waving with his chin up,” Hearn continued of Joshua. “People have criticized AJ in the past for not letting go of his hands. He let go of his hands at the worst possible times.”
Joshua didn’t land many punches in either round; there were a few in the third and fourth, but not enough to hurt Dubois as he should have. He made a massive deal about sending Dubois back to his corner after the fourth, but he didn’t do much in that round.
“I said, ‘You must be proud of yourself because it couldn’t have gotten any worse, and you never stopped trying to get back up.’ Even when he finally couldn’t get back up. [fifth round]trying to get up. Every time he got knocked down, he looked straight at the referee, ‘I’m fine.’ He kept calling for Dubois,” Hearn said.
Joshua put on a brave face when he was knocked down, but you could see he was worried and knew the fight wasn’t going well for him.
“When he came back into the fight and started hurting Dubois, he was already banged up and had been castrated,” Hearn said.
Joshua should have used his jab to set Dubois up for a right hook after he staggered him in the fifth. He had already hurt him. and didn’t need to unload a risky right hook on him.
“We’ll be respectful because I don’t think it’s fair, Daniel, but we have another fight with Riyadh, a season that we can practice. I believe AJ will want it to be Daniel Dubois.
“He felt like he was coming back into the fight,” Hearn said of Joshua, who believed he was gathering strength in the fourth and fifth rounds. “I spoke to him at length last night and he was really prepared to go into the trenches. He told me, ‘I’m really prepared to do whatever it takes,’ and he never stopped trying.”
If Joshua was grave about going to the trenches, he should have thrown more punches because he didn’t throw enough punches to give himself a chance to win the fight. If he could have thrown 40 to 50 punches a round, he would have won easily. He didn’t and seemed to be worried about gas.
“It was strenuous to watch at times in the second and third rounds. He never stopped hanging on, he never stopped swinging, and we should be proud of him for that performance.
“No, I don’t think so,” Hearn said when asked if there was a chance Joshua would retire after the loss. “He was in great shape. He just got caught so early. He didn’t really have a chance to get in the fight, but even under the circumstances he almost found a way to come back.
“So he’ll be devastated, he’ll feel sorry for himself and he’ll miss the rest of the year and then we’ll see him back in 2025,” Hearn said.
Joshua could have had a much better fight and has some regrets. As he takes the rest of the year off, Joshua will have to dwell on his defeat.
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