“I got to take my hat off to Jake Paul because I like Jake Paul’s hustle,” Mayweather said to Come and Talk 2 Me. “He knows how to hustle and he knows how to get that bag.”
Mayweather also praised David Benavidez, Keyshawn Davis, Shakur Stevenson, Devin Haney and a “little guy from Japan,” widely understood to be Naoya Inoue, but his comments about Jake centered entirely on the YouTuber-turned-boxer’s ability to generate revenue rather than his accomplishments in the ring.
That distinction hasn’t stopped fans from wondering if Mayweather could be laying the groundwork for another lucrative exhibition.
The unbeaten Hall of Famer has never hidden his willingness to participate in high-paying exhibitions. Earlier in the same interview, he dismissed criticism that he fights only for money.
“If I’m able to steal some extra money, why not?” Mayweather said while discussing future exhibition opportunities.
Mayweather faced Logan Paul in a widely publicized exhibition in 2021 that generated enormous interest despite the mismatch. A bout with Jake Paul would likely attract even more attention given Jake’s larger profile in boxing and social media.
While Jake has become one of combat sports’ biggest commercial attractions, many fans don’t believe his boxing record warrants being mentioned alongside world champions such as Benavidez, Inoue, Stevenson, Haney and Keyshawn Davis. He has yet to establish himself among the leading contenders at cruiserweight.
For that reason, many viewed Mayweather’s comments as recognition of Jake’s business success rather than his standing as one of the sport’s elite fighters.
An exhibition between the two has yet to materialize, but Mayweather’s praise of Jake’s ability to “get that bag” has already fueled discussion about another blockbuster payday.
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