Getty Jake Paul punches Ryan Bourland during their cruiserweight fight on March 2, 2024.
Boxer Jake Paul is a “nasty knockout” just waiting to happen, according to undefeated fighter Shakur Stevenson.
Stevenson, 26, made the remark after Paul scored a first-round technical knockout over Ryan Bourland on March 2 in Puerto Rico. It was Paul’s ninth win as a pro, six of which have been by knockout.
Posting on X, Stevenson, a top-ranked boxer with world titles in three weight classes, called Paul “reckless as hell,” intimating that the win doesn’t mask Paul’s flaws as a fighter.
“When he steps up the competition he better correct that cause I could see a nasty KO with the right person,” he wrote.
Dude reckless as hell.. When he step up the competition he better correct that cause I could see a nasty KO wit the right person!
Bourland landed a mere three punches from 24 thrown, a connect rate of 12.5%, according to Compubox data sent to Heavy. Paul had a connect rate of 32.4%, landing 24 of 74 punches thrown.
The finish wasn’t by conclusive knockout but, rather by a referee’s stoppage after Paul backed Bourland into a corner and whaled on him with punch after punch, until the ref intervened.
Jake Paul with another first round KO 😤
Ryan Garcia Turned on Jake Paul
Another top boxer, Ryan Garcia, also questioned the achievement of Paul, a former YouTube celebrity turned MMA fighter turned boxer.
“Okay, enough,” he posted on X. “It’s on; I’m going to have to do this.
“I’m going to end this Jake Paul boxing thing,” wrote Garcia, a super lightweight who has a tough task scheduled April 20 as he boxes unbeaten Devin Haney at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
“Bring it on Jake, I’m dead [expletive] serious.”
He added: “Hit my team up.”
Okay enough, it’s on I’m going to have to do this! I’m going to end this JAKE PAUL BOXING THING.
BRING IT ON JAKE IM DEAD FUCKING SERIOUS FUCK YOU! HIT MY TEAM UP
MMA Fighters Also Took Delight in Trolling Paul Online
The Bourland bout was the 10th of Paul’s career and follows a change of direction in boxing strategy.
Paul is currently feasting on athletes who have experience in boxing, as he builds up his record and tries to develop as a boxer.
Previously, Paul lured veteran MMA fighters into the ring to compete against them in a ring adhering to boxing rules.
It was a strategy that had paid dividends as he enticed MMA fans to watch the fights having trolled his opponents, and even other fighters like Conor McGregor, as Business Insider reported.
To date, he’s beaten Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz — all of whom are bigger names than recent opponents Andre August and Bourland.
Now, MMA fighters appear to be getting their own back online as they took to X to belittle Paul’s outfit, and performance.
“I’d cook you,” PFL MMA middleweight and former UFC fighter Derek Brunson said on X.
UFC lightweight Jared Gordon, meanwhile, mocked Paul’s shorts.
What “is he wearing?” He asked with rhetoric.
@MMAFighting Wtf is he wearing
Brunson also wasn’t amused as he remarked on X that Paul was wearing what looked like a tu-tu.
It is unclear when Paul will fight next, and if that will even be another boxing match, or an MMA bout.
In January 2023, Paul signed a deal with the PFL MMA firm, and a source with knowledge of the deal told Heavy later that year that the company expects him to compete in 2024.
One opponent Paul had been linked with was Diaz — who he had already beaten in the ring, but could rematch in PFL’s SmartCage.