UFC CEO Dana White once held the potential to bring Jake Paul`s burgeoning boxing career to a premature end, years before Paul`s highly anticipated match against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Scheduled for June 28 at Anaheim’s Honda Center, the fight will be Paul`s 13th professional boxing appearance.
Since transitioning to boxing, Paul has been a figure of significant debate, largely criticized for his choice of opponents, many of whom are former mixed martial arts fighters or older boxing veterans. White himself has been among Paul`s most vocal critics, recently speaking out against Paul`s planned bout with boxing legend Mike Tyson.
However, a pivotal moment existed where White could have prevented much of Paul`s controversial journey in the sport.
Jake Paul`s Challenge: Conditions for Retirement
After securing knockout victories over former UFC champions Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley, Paul continued his public feud with Dana White, often criticizing the UFC`s business practices and fighter compensation. In early 2022, Paul presented a public challenge to White.
Paul stated his terms clearly on social media:
“Happy new year, @danawhite. Here is a real challenge for you… I will immediately retire from boxing and fight Jorge Masvidal in the UFC if you agree to…”
The proposed conditions were specific demands aimed at improving UFC fighter welfare: increase the lowest fighter pay to $50,000 per fight, share 50 percent of the UFC`s annual revenue directly with the athletes, and provide long-term healthcare for fighters.
Dana White`s Dismissive Response
It did not take long for Dana White to publicly reject Paul`s offer in a dismissive manner.
“That (UFC contract proposal) that you came out with today, nobody on Earth thinks that you really wrote that. You’re too stupid,” White said in a video response.
White went on to criticize those around Paul, specifically mentioning a former accountant, and challenged Paul and his team to start their own promotional business if they believed they could manage it better or treat fighters more equitably.
“Go start your own business, it’s easy to do,” White added.
In addition to his rejection, White countered Paul`s proposal by demanding that Paul be tested for performance-enhancing drugs, an accusation White has frequently leveled against the YouTuber-turned-boxer.
White`s decision not to accept Paul`s conditional retirement offer ensured that Paul`s boxing career would continue, leading to his subsequent fights and maintaining his prominent, albeit controversial, presence in the sport.
