Jake Paul eyes Forbes' list of highest-paid boxer after making $100m… and admits he ENJOYS fans wanting him to be KO'd
JAKE PAUL has no hesitation in admitting he ENJOYS fans wanting him to be knocked out.
After all, that is what has made him $100MILLION (£73m) in the ring - closing in on becoming the highest-paid boxer on Forbes' list.
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The YouTuber-turned prizefighter gave up on trying to be liked the moment he first laced up the gloves - and has profited from being boxing's bad guy.
Paul told SunSport: "I don't think they'll ever show me love, to be honest. To conduct the orchestra, you must turn your back on the audience.
"So I know what I'm doing, I'm just playing a game. People want to tune in to see me lose or the doubters, all of this stuff.
"But, at the end of the day, there's just as much love that, and that's what I focus on."
Paul this year ranked third in Forbes' list of highest-earning content creators.
He banked $50m (£36m) with $40m (£30m) of that made in his last fight against Mike Tyson - who controversially made a comeback aged 58.
Paul also earned $30m (£20m) in defeat to Tommy Fury in 2023 - his first and so far only loss a boxer.
And after earning $30m (£20m) for his three fights in 2021 alone - the former prankster-gone-prizefighter has cleared over $100m as a boxer.
Jake Paul vs Julio Cesar Chavez Jr
JAKE PAUL'S controversial boxing career rolls on this weekend with the Problem Child facing boxing royalty in Anaheim, California.
Paul will face Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, a highly-decorated former world middleweight champion.
The Mexican, 39, has fought just once in the last four years but has the best boxing resume of any fighter to step into a ring with Paul - bar Mike Tyson, who was aged 58 at the time they fought.
Watch Jake Paul vs Julio Cesar Chavez Jr LIVE on DAZN PPV
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And he reckons surpassing Canelo Alvarez - who he was in talks to fight this May - is on the cards.
Paul boasted: "I think it could happen for sure. I definitely think it can happen in the next 12-24 months.
"It would be a cool thing to check off in a great accomplishment, so we'll see what happens."
Paul, 28, returns to the ring TONIGHT against former middleweight world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, 39, back down at cruiserweight.
A shock ranking to fight for the WBC world title could be at stake for Paul - while he is always a loss away from his career being derailed.
And it is that threat of being knocked out, embarrassed and proven wrong that motivates him to succeed.
Paul said: "I think definitely I use a bit of like fear and what people say as motivation, inspiration.
"But mostly I try to focus on the love and proving myself right and challenging myself at this point.
"I've already exceeded my expectations of what I was going to do in this sport and so everything else here is is a win, right?
"Like, I've built my whole entire dream life, businesses, companies, so really I'm just playing with house money now."
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