Another Champion Challenges Jake Paul
WBC bridgerweight champion Kevin Lerena (30-3, 14 KOs) shared his thoughts on the recent bout between former undisputed champion Mike Tyson (50-7, 44 KOs) and influencer-boxer Jake Paul (11-1, 7 KOs). Lerena also announced his willingness to step into the ring with Jake.
"Listen, the event was phenomenal. Obviously, the fight itself didn’t live up to all the hype, but we have to be realistic – it was unlikely to meet those expectations. You know, Mike Tyson is 58 years old, and Jake Paul is in his prime. It was youth versus experience, and an uneven match at that. But the event as a whole was fantastic. I watched it, and I think Jake deserves credit for getting people interested in boxing. That’s the essence of it.
I think he’s trying to legitimize his career with the opponents he chooses and clearly wants to take things to the next level. I’m not saying Mike Tyson isn’t a high-level opponent, but he’s an older man with health issues, even though he was a ferocious and relentless fighter in his youth. But this is a different story now.
Why did I say before the fight that I’d take on Jake Paul? Like every other boxer, it would be the biggest payday of my career. Beyond that, I’m somewhat similar to him in the sense that I didn’t have an amateur career. I went straight into the pros and achieved what I have in 34 fights with almost no experience.
If Jake Paul wants to fight legitimate boxers, here’s a world champion offering him that chance. It’s an obvious choice.
What do I gain? The biggest purse of my life. What does he gain? If he loses to me, people will say, 'He lost to a legitimate world champion. Keep going, Jake.' If he beats me? Then he’s the real deal. But I don’t see how he can beat me. I think I’d destroy him.
He’s moved to Puerto Rico, built a strong team, and is doing everything right to become the best professional boxer he can be. The benefits are clear for both sides: he gets a title shot, and I get to fight one of boxing’s biggest stars.
Would Jake not being in the WBC rankings be an issue? I don’t think so. If [WBC President Mauricio] Sulaiman said that beating Tyson gives him a ranking, then why not? He’s had 11 or 12 fights, and I’m confident Jake can beat 80% of bridgerweights.
This is a new division, and I believe fights like Lerena vs. Paul draw attention to the weight class and help it grow. These bouts make titles more significant," said Lerena.
To recap, on November 15, Jake Paul defeated Mike Tyson via unanimous decision. The 58-year-old Tyson returned to the ring in an official bout for the first time since June 2005. The fight lasted eight 2-minute rounds and was officially recorded in both fighters' careers.
According to Netflix, the fight was watched live by 60 million households worldwide, with peak viewership reaching 65 million, making it one of the most-watched events of 2024.