Jake Paul has rubbished claims that his upcoming fight against Hasim Rahman Jr will be fixed.
Throughout his fighting career, the internet sensation-turned-boxer has been accused of fixing his own fights in his favour - despite all bouts having been sanctioned by major athletic commissions.
Multiple YouTube videos popped up following his knockout victory over Tyron Woodley, with many claiming the former UFC champion took a ‘dive’ against ‘The Problem Child’.
It seems many can’t quite get their head around that Paul may actually be decent at boxing.
Well, now those critics are back and at it again with their conspiracy theories that the fight at Madison Square Garden between Paul and Rahman Jr is fixed.
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Hasim stepped in to take Tommy Fury’s spot after the British boxer was denied entry to the United States because of visa issues.
However, as soon as he did, fans started digging through the archives, discovering that Paul and Rahman Jr sparred twice back in 2020 - giving life to the conspiracy theories.
Obviously, boxers commonly spar opponents who they end up fighting later down the line, but that hasn’t stopped fans from questioning whether there was any collusion between Paul and Rahman Jr.
Speaking at a press conference Jake Paul slammed the accusations and pointed out the multiple times sparring partners have turned enemies.
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He said: It's f***ing ridiculous. It's illegal to do that, first and foremost. Secondly, sparring partners end up fighting all of the time. Look at Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez, Dillian Whyte and Tyson Fury, this is a common thing.
"And they [the Rahman family] have so much pride and ego and there's real tension, you can feel that energy in the room. So anybody who thinks that are obviously the Jake Paul haters that want to discredit anything that I'm doing."
Hasim Rahman Jr also defended himself against the claims, pointing to the respect he has for the sport after watching his father go into intense battles throughout the years.
Hasim Rahman actually knocked out Lennox Lewis in 2001 and has shared the ring with legends such as Evander Holyfield and Wladimir Klitschko before retiring in 2014.
Rahman Jr explained at the conference, via The Mirror: "When my father was fighting Evander Holyfield, he had a hematoma on his head the size of a cantaloupe. He put his life on the line in this sport.
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"If Holyfield hit that thing, it could have bust open and my father could have died - he really put his life on the line. Do you really think I'm going to disrespect the sport I love, that put me through private school? The sport that has afforded me not to want for anything?
"I've never wanted anything in my life because of boxing. I don't know what it's like to want something because my father put in so much work to this sport and dedicated his life to this sport.
"So in what realm do you think I'm about to go out there and do anything other than put my best foot forward? You're asinine if you think that."
Jayden Collins