Jake Paul Hires Elon Musk's Lawyer To Fight Claims Of Fixed Bouts

News18

2 days ago

Jake Paul, the YouTuber-turned-professional boxer, has escalated his fight against critics by hiring powerhouse lawyer Alex Spiro – renowned for defending Elon Musk and Jay-Z – to pursue legal action against those alleging his headline bouts are choreographed spectacles rather than genuine contests.
Spiro told the New York Post, 'Mr. Paul has retained me to seek legal remedies for the damage he has suffered," warning that anyone using their public platform to spread lies 'will face consequences."
I've dedicated my life to boxing and I will no longer let those with a public profile harm me or the sport I love and respect, without consequences https://t.co/SaVFLWaoIa — Jake Paul (@jakepaul) August 4, 2025
Criticism of Paul's boxing credentials has become almost as competitive as the sport itself.
The most recent uproar followed his bout with Julio César Chávez Jr., a fight notable for its light exchange of punches, which reignited questions about Paul's earlier unanimous-decision victory over Mike Tyson.
Social media chatter around Paul's fights typically focuses less on his technique and more on suspicions that he manipulates outcomes to protect his brand.
After facing Tyson, he remarked, 'I didn't want to hurt someone who didn't need to be hurt."
Although intended as a gesture of respect, many interpreted it as an admission that he deliberately held back to avoid embarrassment – further muddying the waters between genuine competition and entertainment.
Since debuting professionally in 2020, Paul has drawn millions of pay-per-view buys and sold-out arenas, attracting both boxing purists and his legion of YouTube fans. Yet, despite his commercial success, prominent figures in the sport remain unconvinced of his legitimacy.
British broadcaster Piers Morgan condemned Paul for staging 'fights that clearly benefit him" and, after receiving a legal threat, doubled down, calling it 'ridiculous" to claim these events don't harm boxing's integrity.
Even Sylvester Stallone quipped that Paul's performance was akin to 'one of the greatest Oscar-winning performances of all time" before issuing an apology and deleting the post.
At 28, Paul holds a 12–1 professional record and runs a marketing machine rivaling those of veteran promoters. His high-profile opponents – former champions like Anderson Silva, Nate Diaz, and Tyron Woodley – were viewed by critics as past their primes when they faced him. Detractors argue Paul cherry-picks outdated or out-of-shape fighters, turning his matches into money-making spectacles that threaten to reduce boxing to parody.
Defamation lawsuits in sports are on the rise, following precedents such as Brett Favre's suit against Shannon Sharpe and Pat McAfee. With Alex Spiro in his corner, Paul signals that he's prepared to defend his reputation in court if necessary – delivering a legal blow to critics who underestimate him.
At this point, the only punch Paul hasn't thrown is the one he plans to land in the courtroom.