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YouTube stars Jake Paul and AnEsonGib will be part of Matchroom Boxing’s Super Bowl Thursday card on Jan. 30 in Miami, meeting in the co-feature slot of a show that features three world title fights.
Paul, 22, and Gib, 23, are both making their pro debuts, obviously, and they had some carefully constructed trash talk for the press release, with Paul also calling out KSI, the YouTube guy that beat Paul’s YouTube brother in November in a controversial DAZN main event.
“Coming into the sport of boxing as an undefeated champion amongst my peers, it’s my duty to set the bar as high as possible for others looking to cross over into the sport,” said Jake Paul. “This is more than a fight to me, it’s a chance to show the world that anyone with a dream, vision, and the right work ethic, can overcome adversity and shine on the brightest stage. This bout has deep roots; it’s a fight for my brother’s honor, my pride and most importantly my loyal fans who are among the best in the world. This is the American dream. My opponent’s 15 minutes of fame turn into 10 seconds of counting stars as he lays unconscious on the canvas. And then, I’m coming for that wanker KSI.”
“After six months of Jakey ducking, the fight is finally going down,” said AnEsonGib. “He had no choice of his opponent, I chose him. Since my last fight I have been training nonstop and Jan. 30 in Miami, I will end the fight in devastating fashion and will have my hand raised in front of his country, family and friends. Jake Paul is going to be my walking, talking ad for the rest of his days.”
The show’s main event will see Demetrius Andrade defend his WBO middleweight title against Luke Keeler, and the show will also feature Tevin Farmer vs Joseph Diaz Jr for Farmer’s IBF junior lightweight title, plus Daniel Roman defending the WBA and IBF junior featherweight titles against Murodjon Akhmadaliev.
Given the location of the show and the lack of star power among the rest of the fights, something like Paul vs Gib could be genuinely useful in getting people into the building and getting them to tune in. You don’t have to like it — I’m not wild about it — but there’s certainly a method to the madness.