Jake Paul dominated Nate Robinson in Los Angeles
(Picture: Getty Images for Triller)YouTube sensation Jake Paul sealed his second professional boxing victory against former NBA star Nate Robinson on the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr undercard in Los Angeles on Saturday night.
Paul put down his overmatched and inexperienced opponent three times inside two rounds en route to a devastating but rather ugly win from a fight that many will feel should have been stopped earlier.
36-year-old Robinson - looking to further prove himself as a world-class athlete after a long basketball career - initiated almost constant grappling during a scrappy start to an unusual contest, before being floored by a big counter right hand that caught him flush on the back of the head.
He rose late in the referee’s count and signalled that he was fine to continue before losing his footing and somehow making it to the bell at the end of the first.
Robinson was quickly sent sprawling to the canvas once more in round two, but again got to his feet and indicated a willingness to fight on.
That decision arguably should have been taken out of his hands, with the ex-point guard left face down in the ring after a third brutal knockdown that brought an unedifying spectacle to its inevitable conclusion.
Robinson was seen struggling to sit up in difficult scenes after the fight, but received medical attention and eventually managed to haul himself onto a chair brought into the ring.
“Thank you everyone for all of the well wishes, I’m OK,” Robinson later wrote on Instagram. "I appreciate @triller for the opportunity as well as everyone that has backed me during the fight.
“To my coaches, trainers, fans, and teammates, I appreciate all of the time and support you guys put in with me...it wasn’t the outcome that we wanted, but I’m thankful for the opportunity to fight on the biggest stage that there has been. #holdat.”
For Paul, a third successive win and second at pro level after his similarly emphatic first-round stoppage of fellow YouTuber AnEsonGib in Miami in January.
But further questions over the legitimacy and dangers associated with these sorts of bouts featuring inexperienced combatants from outside the boxing world is likely to rage over the coming days.
