Jake Paul, who has been in the famous spotlight for nearly a decade, is no stranger to causing trouble. After building a name for himself on social media, ‘The Problem Child’ entered the sporting world as a professional boxer.
In actuality, Paul is not widely regarded as having much talent between the ropes, but that did not prevent him from competing in one of the most lucrative fights of all time, defeating heavyweight superstar Mike Tyson last November. He may already have his next fight scheduled against former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., but that hasn’t stopped Paul from criticizing a number of prominent personalities in the combat sports community.
In fact, the 28-year-old slammed renowned names in a variety of sports as he unveiled his list of the ten most overrated athletes of all time. Paul revealed his picks with a huge smile on his face, so it’s unclear how serious he was about them. Here’s a look at the ten stars Paul believes get more recognition than they deserve.
Babe Ruth was a seven-time World Series winner.
Paul certainly started off with a big name, claiming that the widely regarded greatest symbol in baseball history was “overrated”. Ruth won the World Series seven out of ten times and blasted a record 714 home runs during his career. Paul, a Hall of Famer known for revolutionizing the game, is unlikely to find much backing for his critique of Ruth’s place in history.
Trevor Lawrence was selected first overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2021 NFL draft.
Paul may have been more accurate with his second pick, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence had a 20-30 record in four NFL seasons after being picked first overall by the Jaguars, hampered by uneven form and injury issues. Despite leading the team to a playoff triumph and the AFC South championship in 2022, many believe Lawrence has fallen far short of his potential. Paul described the 25-year-old as “overrated and overpaid,” referring to his massive contract that pays him $55 million per year.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner
Paul knew his choice of the Portuguese superstar would be contentious, stating, “This one is gonna p*** off a lot of people!” While the eternal debate over whether he is better than Argentine superstar Lionel Messi will never be resolved, Ronaldo’s longevity at the top of the game, as evidenced by his recent success in assisting his country to win the Nations League, is a major reason why his fans regard him as the greatest to ever step foot on the pitch. While Paul is entitled to his own opinion, it’s difficult not to interpret Ronaldo’s participation as an attempt to garner attention.
Ryan Garcia, former WBC Interim Lightweight Champion.
The first boxer to appear on Paul’s list of “overrated” talents is polarising American, Garcia. Before losing to Gervonta Davis and Rolly Romero, the California native appeared to be on his way to becoming one of the world’s best fighters. Even after appearing to have won the biggest fight of his career against Devin Haney, Garcia tested positive for the prohibited drug Ostarine and was stripped of his victory. While it may be cruel to label him as overrated, ‘King Ryan’ hasn’t lived up to some of the hype around him.
Conor McGregor
Former two-weight UFC champion.
It’s no surprise that Paul included McGregor on his list. Despite not fighting in the UFC in four years, the Irishman stays active on social media and is a part-owner of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. Despite being the most well-known name in UFC history, McGregor has not won a fight in more over five years. Conor, among many other names, has hinted at a potential fight with Paul if he ever returns to professional fighting.
Dak Prescott
Dallas Cowboys quarterback
Returning to the NFL, Paul slammed Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, calling him “insanely overrated”. Dak is the league’s highest-paid player, earning $60 million each year, but he has a 2-5 playoff record. His 2024 season in Dallas was nothing short of terrible, as the team finished 7-10 overall. Prescott may not be one of Paul’s most controversial decisions.
Anthony Edwards
Minnesota Timberwolves Shooting Guard
One of Paul’s harshest calls, Edwards has already accomplished a lot in the sport at the age of 23. Edwards, the youngest player to ever score 40 or more points in a playoff game, set a Timberwolves record most single-season three-pointers in 2024-25, with 308 made. Edwards, a 2024 Olympic gold medalist for the United States, appears to have a promising future, and Jake may come to regret calling ‘Ant-Man’ overrated in the years to come.
Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez
Four-weight boxing world champion
Paul has previously stated that he has little regard for Canelo’s ability, so seeing his name here comes as no surprise. The pair were supposed to fight in May of this year, but the Mexican hero backed out to sign a multi-bout deal with the Riyadh Season banner. Saudi Arabian boxing leader Turki Alalshikh has stated that he has no interest in making the match, but it remains to be seen whether Paul and Alvarez would ever resolve their issues in the ring.
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins quarterback.
Paul is obviously not a fan of NFL quarterbacks! This time, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is under fire. The 27-year-old has continually shown promise on the field, and his teammates named him one of the top 100 NFL stars in 2023. Unfortunately for Tagovailoa, he has a history of injuries, including a lengthy injury caused by a concussion sustained in a collision on the field. When available, he’s a big asset to the Dolphins – yet he’s another questionable decision by Paul.
Anthony Joshua is a former two-time world heavyweight champion.
Possibly the most ambitious call-out in Paul’s bizarre boxing career, the social media sensation has repeatedly stated that he would defeat ‘AJ’ if the two ever met in the ring. Joshua has yet to return to the squared circle since his catastrophic defeat against Daniel Dubois in September 2024. Paul’s name has not been suggested as a possible comeback opponent for the Watford-born heavyweight, but promoter Eddie Hearn has repeatedly refused to rule out the fight.
xz
