Jake Paul has divided opinion ever since swapping YouTube fame for a boxing career.
While the social media star has racked up victories over a string of high-profile opponents, accusations that his fights are staged or fixed continue to follow him.
Eddie Hall isn’t buying it.
Speaking on the Cars & Money Podcast with Rob Moore and Carl Hartley, the 2017 World’s Strongest Man threw his support behind Paul, insisting the American deserves far more credit than many people are willing to give him.
Hall admitted he would happily step into the ring with Paul himself, but only because of the enormous financial opportunity it would present.
“Yeah, I’d fight Jake Paul. Of course, you’d be a plonker not to fight Jake Paul. You’re almost guaranteed £100 million. Life-changing money,” he said.
The conversation then turned to Paul’s ability as a boxer, with Hall making it clear he believes the 28-year-old has earned his place in the sport.
“100%. How can you not?” he said.
“He’s gone in and knocked some hard b*stards out, ain’t he? So you’ve got to give it to him,” he said.
Hall was also asked about the widespread claims that Paul’s biggest fights have been scripted, particularly following his victory over Mike Tyson.
The former World’s Strongest Man dismissed those suggestions immediately.
“I think it’s b*llocks. Any talk of any fixing whatsoever with the Jake Paul fights is absolute b*llocks. You just can’t,” he said.
Drawing on his own experience inside the ring, Hall explained why he believes anyone who has boxed would understand how unrealistic those conspiracy theories are.
“I just empower anyone that says that to get in the ring and try and film a fight and make it look real. Do a fake fight and make it look f***ing tough,” he said.
“Try and hit someone and make it look convincing because the person who’s been told to take the fall doesn’t want to take a free shot to the jaw, do they?” he said.
Hall also pointed to Paul’s fight against Tyson as another reason why he rejects claims that the contests are scripted.
“I don’t care how good you are when you’re 60 years old. You’re 60 years old,” he said.
“You put him in there with a young… Jake. He’s young. He’s fit. He knows how to fight,” he said.
Rather than criticising Paul’s route into boxing, Hall believes the former YouTuber deserves recognition for reinventing himself.
“You’ve got to love him for it though. I think he’s amazing for what he’s done,” he said.
“He was a Disney Channel kid singing and dancing. Now he’s tattooed from ear to ear and he’s a professional fighter, and a good one. Fair play to him. Smashed it.”
Hall believes much of the criticism directed at Paul comes from people refusing to acknowledge what he has achieved.
“They’re just not giving him credit for it. Exploding onto the scene and just taking everyone’s money,” he said.
Featured image credit: Jake Paul / Instagram / Cars & Money / YouTube
