Ilia Topuria has delivered a blunt assessment of Jake Paul, praising his self-promotion while calling him a “very bad boxer.”
The UFC featherweight champion made the comments during a live stream appearance, offering an unfiltered take on Paul’s boxing credentials.
While critical of his technical ability, Topuria acknowledged there is one aspect of Paul’s career he genuinely admires. The clip has since circulated widely across combat sports circles.
Ilia Topuria calls Jake Paul a bad boxer
Speaking on Adin Ross’ stream in comments shared by ChampRDS, Ilia Topuria said: “I like the way that he represents himself, as a boxer, I think he sucks. He’s a very bad boxer.
He added: “But I love that [despite] being that bad, how he does it and how he promotes himself.”
Topuria’s verdict was clear. He does not rate Paul’s technical skill set inside the ring, but he recognises the American’s ability to command attention and generate revenue.
In an era where visibility often equals value, that distinction matters.
Ilia Topuria explains why he thinks Jake Paul lacks skill
When pressed further by Adin Ross, Ilia Topuria continued: “Because he’s not a good boxer. He doesn’t have the skills to be a good boxer, but anyway, he’s doing a great job because he sells more than most people.”
The response reinforced Topuria’s position that commercial success and boxing fundamentals are not the same thing.
While Paul continues to headline events and draw large audiences, Topuria sees a gap between promotional impact and elite-level ability. Even so, the UFC star’s comments underline a broader truth in modern combat sports.
Marketability can elevate a fighter into major bouts, even if purists question the skill level behind the spotlight. For Topuria, respect is reserved for promotion, not performance.
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