Earlier this month, a clip from HBO’s Game Theory went viral. In it, an interview between host Bomani Jones and social media star turned boxer Jake Paul turned ugly when Jones asked Paul how he will continue selling fights after he loses for the first time. The segment ended with each man saying they do not really know who the other is.
On Sunday, Paul lost his first fight in a split decision to Tyson Fury. Jones tweeted a few jokes but largely thought that would be the end of it. That isn’t what much of the media, including the producer of his ESPN podcast had in mind, though.
“I’ve already talked about Jake Paul more than I intended to talk about Jake Paul,” he said on Monday’s edition of The Right Time with Bomani Jones. “I was doing the rundown of what I want to talk about and Parker was like ‘Oh, you’re not gonna talk about Jake Paul?’ and I was like ‘Damn, I guess I kinda have to, right?’. Like, we’re linked now.”
The fight aired on ESPN+ pay-per-view. That meant that Jones could have watched it for free if he wanted to, but reiterated that he had no plans to do that.
He said that it was apparent that while he may not be in the minority, there is an audience for Paul. The staff he works with at Game Theory is filled with people that wanted to get home on Sunday in time to watch the fight.
“You can say what you want about it man, but the game he’s running has absolutely worked. Like, I was shocked — when we were that story — how many people care about him, the visceral reactions it created,” Jones said.
Bomani Jones remains unimpressed with Jake Paul and unconvinced that he can sustain the interest that existed in his fights before losing for the first time on Sunday. Jones noted that doesn’t mean he was celebrating when Fury’s hand was raised in victory.
“I think people think I am happier about him getting his ass kicked than I actually am. I really do. There were blog posts ‘Bomani Jones delights in Jake Paul…’ No, I ain’t really delight in it. I don’t get anything out of that dude losing.”
