Former world champion slams Jake Paul and crop of YouTube boxers

Ricky Hatton has criticised Jake Paul's influence in boxing and expressed his concern about what he's bringing to the sport. 

Paul will fight boxing icon Mike Tyson one-on-one this summer as he continues his transition into the sport after becoming a social media megastar. 

Since stepping into the ring, the 27-year-old has competed in nine fights, facing opponents from YouTube, MMA, and boxing. The bouts have gained big audiences and a massive following. 

However, speaking to InstantCasinos.com, former champion Hatton isn't a fan of Paul and believes some of the boxing greats would be horrified with the current trend.

“I get the pushing and the shoving and the name calling and holding each other back, but some of the great champions of old will be turning in the grave watching that c—p to be honest with you, " Hatton stated. 

"I’ll be turning in my grave and watching it myself. But, I’ve got my eyes open in the sense that this is the world that we’re in now.

"We’re in the entertainment business. YouTubers against MMA and MMA against boxers, I think that world can exist. As long as fights like Garcia, Crawford and Spence, Fury and Usyk happen. As long as those fights are made, they can stay in their world and we’ll stay in our world. 

"Both can exist, I’m not turning around and saying, ‘oh, this is a joke’. We’re in the entertainment world, that’s the reason why they {YouTubers} have the followings they have, because people want to see it.

"But let them have their world and we’ll have our world.”

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