Jake Paul’s second act starts with a KO: “I’m taking the traditional boxing route’

Jake Paul began his boxing career with a first-round TKO victory over another YouTuber in January 2020. Few would have believed that almost four years later he would still be fighting and taking it more seriously than ever .

With a right uppercut that produced a first-round knockout of Andre August Friday night in Orlando, Fla., Paul kicked off Act 2 of his boxing career. August (10-2-1, 5 KOs) was Paul's most experienced opponent to date, but he was still chosen to be a knockout victim. This was only August's second fight in four years.

This is not a criticism of Paul, but a reality for genuine boxing prospects looking to establish themselves as title contenders.

“Just about experience and scale and growth as a fighter, and there’s less hype, less shenanigans, hardly any bullshit,” Paul, 26, told ESPN in late November. “I'm just going out there to be a young boxing prospect who aspires to become a world champion and fight guys who have that level of experience and get experience under the lights and stay fresh, working more often at camp.

“That’s the journey I’m on now, and I think before it was about business or MMA guys, big names, but now I’m going the traditional boxing route.”

Few people in the boxing industry believe Paul (8-1, 5 KOs) can fight for a title, let alone win one, but that doesn't matter. Paul believes he can, and he backs up his words with work in the gym that has led to an improved fighter in the ring.

He showed respect for the sport of boxing, and that is precisely what led to this from his fellow fighters, both active and retired. The novelty of Paul knocking out former UFC stars has worn off, and Paul clearly admitted it.

“The Problem Child” is after something much more substantial, and that’s the claim to the title. He knows it won't be easy or quick. But it's not impossible in a sport that offers four titles per weight category and sometimes more. Money talks and Paul remains an attraction.

It doesn't ask for any shortcuts either.

“The first phase was fun, crazy, pay-per-view and entertaining,” Paul said. “And this phase is just the path to becoming world champion and getting that experience under my belt, the 10,000 hours and truly becoming the best boxer I can become in the shortest possible time .

“…I think the best part is seeing people's respect for me grow and grow and grow. Because obviously, when I came in, I said I was going to stay in this game for a long time. This is my destiny. This is what I love. I'm going to change the game. I'm going to be world champion.

Whether or not he achieves his lofty goal, Paul's victory on Friday represents another step forward, the same path traveled by many champions before him.