Promotional social media posts on Tuesday from YouTuber-turned-pro-boxer Jake Paul and his brother, YouTuber-turned-pro-wrestler Logan Paul, had many convinced the pair were set to square off in the ring for a live event in March. But sources have told ESPN that the siblings are actually just creating hype for a new reality show.
“The moment you’ve waited a decade for,” the Pauls posted on their respective social media channels, along with a head-to-head image of the siblings staring each other down. The poster included no information besides a mention of the streaming service Max and the date March 27, leaving the door open to speculation about a bout on that night.
ESPN was unable to confirm the premise of the TV series the brothers are apparently advertising. Reps for Max and for both Jake and Logan Paul did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone‘s requests for comment.
Jake Paul, whose boxing record stands at 11-1 (with seven wins by knockout), most recently made headlines with a stunt match versus former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in December, winning in a decision against the 58-year-old, who had come out of retirement for the sanctioned bout. Drawing 108 million viewers on Netflix, which has begun to gradually expand its sports programming, it was the most watched sports event ever for a streaming platform. The gate for the Dallas fight was also the biggest for any boxing match outside of Las Vegas. But the stream suffered various glitches, and the fight itself was short on fireworks, with many questioning why Tyson had been willing to risk his life in the ring at his age — and add a loss to his official record.
While Jake Paul has boxed professionally since 2020, Logan is relatively inexperienced in the sport, with a 1-1 pro record. Most infamously, he took on retired, undefeated former champ Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a 2021 exhibition match that drew boos and ended after eight rounds with no official winner. (Mayweather later claimed, as many viewers suspected, that he had held back the kind of power that could have dropped his much larger opponent.) The elder Paul then transitioned into a part-time wrestling career with the WWE, sparring as a heel that audiences love to hate on Monday Night Raw, which now airs on Netflix.
But while the disparity in their athletic careers meant a boxing match never made much sense to begin with, many commenters across Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) regarded such a potential spectacle as a natural “cash grab” for the Pauls. Some predicted a fight that would end in a disappointing draw — one potentially rigged from the start.
The cynical reactions only proved that these two young men, who have made millions as bro influencers with brand empires before age 30, are still adept at courting attention. The Pauls have long enjoyed playing up their villain status, and they know the only thing more enticing than the chance to see one of them socked in the face is the possibility of seeing them bruised and bloodied at each other’s hands. The forthcoming Max show may not offer that, but it will likely help ratings if it does.
