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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Donagh Corby

Jake Paul drops YouTube star in controversial sparring footage ahead of ring return

Jake Paul brutally dropped fellow social media star Deestroying during a training session in Puerto Rico on Thursday ahead of his return to boxing next year.

Paul is one of the biggest creators on YouTube, but has also spent the last five years training to become a professional boxer, who most recently defeated the legendary UFC champion Anderson Silva. Meanwhile Deestroying, whose real name is Donald De La Haye Jr, is an athletic YouTuber, but had never boxed prior to joining Paul in his Puerto Rican training base.

The Faze Clan member headed to Dorado to spend time with his friend and move around in the ring as Paul prepares for his next fight, believed to be in February. But when they got to sparring, it didn't take long for the 6-0 professional to viciously put his opponent down.

Paul reportedly allowed Deestroying to work for the majority of a round, before eventually deciding to throw a punch. He hit the social media star with a three-punch combination, starting with a light shot to the head before landing two brutal hooks to the body that saw the session stopped.

The YouTuber, who was wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with a photo of his knockout win over UFC legend Tyron Woodley last year, reposted photos and videos of the session to Instagram. And fans were unhappy, noting that it was unimpressive to put down somebody with no experience in the sport at any level.

Paul's trainer BJ Flores shared a series of videos on his Instagram story directly after the spar with Deestroying, saying: "Credit, he rolled up today in Puerto Rico, challenged the Problem Child Jake Paul, did his thing, did what he had to do, but what happened in there Dee?"

What do you make of Jake Paul sparring with YouTubers who have no experience? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!

"He hit me with a couple body shots," Deestroying responded. "Bro, I couldn't breath. I really thought about what I did, my decision to step in the ring, he's a real boxer. Heavy a** handed, he's not even trying. First, he catches me across the head, bopped me. Then right there split my guard, smacked me right in the body, laid me out. I couldn't breath. That boy said I had 22 seconds left, I'm good on that.

"His hands are so heavy and he doesn't even look like he's trying. They told me to go at my pace because he would match my pace. That boy tagged me in the face, tagged me in the sternum, I couldn't breath.

"A minute and 38 seconds is all it took. The first minute he wasn't even [throwing punches]. All y'all boys talking s*** that Jake Paul ain't a boxer, this m*********er is legit."

Paul briefly spoke about the session in a video on Flores' page, noting that he was impressed by his friend's ability and noting that if he trained properly that he could be a good boxer. "He's fast, he got heart and balls and he's doing what a lot of people won't do which is get in the ring with me. So respect to him, he's athletic, took some shots so if he really worked at it he could be good."

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