Jake Paul‘s career in the ring got off to a rough start. While he did secure a first-round knockout, the influencer had a tough time executing his game plan.
‘The Problem Child’ has showcased his true boxing talent to the world over the past several years. The YouTuber has bested some huge names on his way to global fame, though it wasn’t too long ago that he was struggling to put it all together in the ring.
After venturing into amateur boxing with a win over Oladeji Olatunji, better known for his online alias ‘Deji’, Jake Paul grew a passion for the sport.
A 17-month hiatus from the squared circle allowed him to fine-tune his skills and test the professional waters. Despite storming past his opponent with a huge first-round knockout, Jake Paul admitted to his struggles with putting his game plan into action.
“I didn’t even really get to show my skill,” Jake Paul told Matchroom Boxing following his professional debut victory. “I didn’t land any of my really hard punches.”
“They were all kind of off the very top of the head or [they] barely missed.”
Related: Former boxing world champion gives Jake Paul a reality check
Love him or hate him, one standout aspect of Jake Paul’s game is his power. The 28-year-old has managed to land knockout shots in 63% of his wins, but this isn’t one of his newly acquired skills.
According to Jake, former head coach Shane Mosley didn’t take long to assure the social media star that he has devastating power in his hands.
“Shane always told me in practice, he’s like, ‘Yo, you have power, you have power.'”
“I didn’t really realize it until I knocked him out in the first round. So, f***, here we are.”
Listen to Jake Paul’s reaction to his first-round knockout win following his professional boxing debut in the video below.
