Has Jake Paul finally won our respect in the ring?

Perhaps it is the momentum of this cycle that keeps Jake Paul going. Each time the YouTube star announces his next boxing bout, it begins – insistence that this opponent will stop Paul, criticism of the 25-year-old’s in-ring abilities, then frustration after his latest win that he is not facing tougher competition.

Of course, with the gradual elevation of ability across the ring, the cycle rotates less smoothly; the cogs grind and grate. At some point, the wheels may come off altogether amid acceptance that Paul has actually earned – gulp! – respect.

That day is edging closer, following the American’s decision victory over UFC legend Anderson Silva on Saturday.

As usual with Paul’s opponents, there was at least one asterisk. In Silva’s case, it was age. The Brazilian is arguably the finest striker that mixed martial arts has ever seen, and he even holds a boxing win against ex-world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

But the speed and slickness of “The Spider” are not what they once were, nor is his resilience. Those realities, plus rumours that Silva had been knocked out twice in sparring last month, led some to fear for the 47-year-old.

In the end, he was put down in the last of eight rounds shared with Paul in Arizona’s Desert Diamond Arena, but only after proving himself as the YouTuber’s most-skilled opponent so far – by some way.

The result saw Paul move to 6-0 as a pro. Every previous opponent had lost via KO, with former UFC champion Tyron Woodley being the most recent.

In December, Woodley stepped in for Tommy Fury, half-brother of heavyweight boxing champion Tyson and a combatant who would have helped Paul finally tick the “fought a pro boxer” box. Fury not only withdrew last December but did so again this August, as did his replacement Hasim Rahman Jr.

In essence, it is not Paul’s fault that he has not yet fought a pro boxer. Frustration at the level of Paul’s competition is the present stage of the cycle, but that frustration should soon fade.

Maybe in time, it will even be replaced by respect, for the American is dedicating himself to a brutal endeavour, one that most would not undertake.

Yours,

Alex Pattle

Combat sports correspondent