Don't underestimate Jake Paul just because he's often the subject of ridicule. The YouTuber-turned-boxer reportedly earned $40 million from his Friday night bout against Mike Tyson in Arlington, Texas. Over 60 million households worldwide tuned in to witness the clash between the 58-year-old Tyson and the 27-year-old Paul, according to Netflix. The fight lasted all eight rounds, but from the outset, it was clear Tyson was outmatched. His legs seemed rooted to the canvas, while he bit his glove like a child sucking on a thumb, even as Paul frequently dropped his hands to his waist. Paul didn't win because he's a great boxer; he won because Tyson was too old. This narrative might sound uncomfortably familiar. Donald Trump didn't win the presidency because he was an impeccable candidate; he won because Biden was too old to run again—and Biden didn't realize it, just like Tyson, until it was too late.
Like Paul, Trump has long been the punchline of jokes. Before his political career, the reality TV star was underestimated due to his awkward persona. But as Americans have learned over the past decade, when Trump says he'll do something, he genuinely tries to do it, and recent election results prove he might just succeed. The boastful celebrity who keeps claiming he's the best until a significant portion of the population believes him is a rhetorical strategy not unlike what Paul has used in his transition from influencer to professional boxer. In 2017, Paul cultivated the fastest-growing channel in YouTube's history by simply declaring he would and making it happen. Early in his boxing career, Paul dubbed himself 'The Problem Child.' Paul embodies the United States' problem child: an outrageous, insensitive, careless white man who revels in his ability to stir up controversies. In recent years, the American vernacular has increasingly used the term 'problematic' to describe the gray area between socially acceptable and unacceptable behavior.
The Problem Child, much like President-elect Trump, knows how to straddle the line between criminality and harmless entertainment, between overt racism and 'just a bad joke!' The rhetorical parallels between Trump and Paul have become an explicit alliance. Days before the election, Paul released an 18-minute video endorsing Trump, comparing Trump's felony convictions to the founding fathers' struggle for independence against the British. So it's no surprise that two weeks later, the crowd at the Tyson vs. Paul fight in Arlington, about 20 miles west of Dallas, resembled a MAGA rally. After the match, journalist Mariya Moseley noted, 'The number of Trump hats I've seen tonight is absolutely crazy.' With tens of millions of households watching, Paul said in his victory speech: 'This night is not about me, man. I wanted to thank all the real heroes, the US military, the doctors, the nurses in the ER, the cops, the firefighters, the farmers, the truck drivers, all the people that make this world go 'round. Thank you, America. It's the era of truth. It's the era of good. There's a shift in the world and good is rising, the truth is rising. It's just an honor to be part of America. It feels like we're back, baby.'
Who are the 'we,' and where have they returned to? Are the 'we' men accused of sexual misconduct? Trump, Tyson, and Paul have all been indicted, incriminated, or accused of sexual assault. Or, more broadly, are the 'we' those who endorse Trump's elusive brand of white supremacy and sexism? Have they returned to the spotlight, back in power? The underwhelming sparring session between Paul and Tyson was backdropped by an increasingly mainstream agenda of promoting conservatism in popular culture. Trump's rhetoric has proven durable over the last 10 years. Many Republican politicians have adopted his manner of speaking, but now, the same is happening beyond the realm of politics. Trumpian showmanship is becoming translatable to other spheres of influence, like sports.
What Paul attempts and what Trump maintains is the pretense of authenticity despite mockery or dismissal. There doesn't need to be a calculated agenda; rather, a consistency in messaging. Paul's and Trump's particular brand of notoriety is based on unapologetic sincerity, fostering relatability among those who identify with the 'we' in Paul's speech. On Friday night, as Tyson slumped deeper into his corner between rounds, he became a reminder that time cannot be turned back. Paul is right. A shift has taken place, shrouded in the spectacle of grandeur and showboating. Where Jake Paul's toddler-aged boxing career will go from here is unknown. He needs to fight boxers his own age, rather than faded MMA fighters and fellow YouTubers, to be taken seriously. But however he proceeds, you can be sure he will continue to popularize behavior that is, well, problematic.
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