sport news Jake Paul claims he is 'GLAD' he lost to Tommy Fury and 'owes' his rival for ... trends now
Over the years, there had been a strange aura of invincibility around Jake Paul. Strange considering we are talking about a former Disney channel and YouTube star who has been beating up UFC fighters and barely breaking a sweat.
But that aura is gone – now that his first career defeat has been dished out by bitter rival Tommy Fury earlier this year. For a while now Paul’s critics have been watching his progress waiting for him to slip up and arguing that once he is beaten, the interest in his journey as a boxer will start to shrivel up.
While Paul’s rivals are now aware he can be beaten, he emerged with credit for his performance against Fury, taking the professional boxer to the final bell and even sending him to the canvas in the 12th round.
Ahead of his next fight against former MMA superstar Nate Diaz on Saturday night, Paul is finding that not only are the opportunities continuing to mount up despite a crushing defeat, but that it has helped him level up his game as a fighter.
‘I think the loss was a massive win because it reset a lot of things in my life,’ Paul told Mail Sport. ‘It gave me that chip on my shoulder that I had lost beating a bunch a guys and making a bunch of money doing it. You get caught up in this game and you lose that tenacity in the gym. You have to have a strong why to go into the gym. I started to lose that going into the Tommy fight. I wasn't as hungry or motivated. It was such a blessing in disguise.’
Jake Paul (L) suffered the first defeat of his professional career in February against Tommy Fury
Paul faces UFC icon Nate Diaz (R) at the American Airlines Centre in Dallas, Texas on Saturday
I ask Paul if there was anything he would change from that night in Saudi Arabia on February 26 – where after he claimed a number of factors had disrupted his rhythm and preparation – including jet leg, injuries, illness and weak legs. But he insists ‘needed’ to lose and is in fact grateful to Fury for beating him.
‘I wouldn't. I'm glad I'm lost,’ he added. ‘I needed it for so many reasons. I have thanked Tommy in my meditations for beating me. I owe him because this is what's better for me in the universal plan.
'I think losing put me on a track to being more successful longer term [as opposed to] me beating him that night. I'm very happy with where I am in life and the changes I've made. They made me a better person and fighter.
‘I've learned so much about myself and what I'm capable of. It's almost a relief. There's a ton of pressure going into these fights when you're undefeated. I know what it feels like to lose now and it wasn't bad. There were some tough moments initially, but they made me more confident in myself going forward.’
Fury has since signed on to face another of Paul’s rivals in KSI later this year – with the American hoping to face the winner. He is particularly craving a rematch with Fury – revealing there are ‘talks behind the scenes’ to make it happen - as he aims to right the wrongs of the first fight.
‘I know I will (beat him) and for me it's not even about beating him, it's about finishing him,’ he adds. ‘To leave no doubt. To show people that he caught me at the best possible time for him, but it was my worst possible night and timing in my life.
'When we meet again, I'm going to stop him and that will show people that what happened that night was a fluke.
Paul is 6-1 as a professional boxers and holds victories over the likes of Tyron Woodley (pictured), Ben Askren and NBA star Nate Robinson
‘I think I didn't perform well. Tommy had a good fight but it was me that didn't step up to the plate. I didn't perform to the best of my ability. I lost the fight and I wasn't in my best state as a fighter. It wasn't like he was any tougher than Anderson Silva, I just didn't live up to my expectations that night.
‘I have now brought in this new team all across the board which has made me exponentially better and a different fighter and it’s made the sport super fun, more
