EDDIE HEARN said Jake Paul ‘comes across as an absolute b***end’ but is just ‘on the wind up’.
Hearn promoted Paul’s first professional fight, a one-round stoppage against YouTube rival ‘AnEsonGib’.
Since then, the American internet sensation has gone on to knock out ex-NBA star Nate Robinson and retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, both 36.
Paul has divided opinions in his boxing career, having called out the likes of Conor McGregor, 32, and mocked Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez, 30.
But Hearn revealed the social media celebrity’s persona is all part of an act to drive interest at the expense of his doubters.
He said: “Thoughts on Jake Paul? Listen, I promoted a Jake Paul fight, I think he’s creating a lot of noise.
“I think the one thing I’ll say about Jake Paul is, he comes across as an absolute b***end, but he’s actually not.
“He’s alright, I’ve always found him alright. But he’s just on the wind up, basically. And everybody’s biting.”
Paul, 24, has since boxed on Triller’s pay-per-view platform and he claimed his win over Askren pulled in 1.5m box office buys.
The likes of McGregor, Nate Diaz, 36, and Daniel Cormier, 42, are now on his radar.
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Paul told ESPN: “I want to be undefeated and want to beat good guys.
“I want Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor, those are the guys I want to go up against.”
On Cormier, he said: “I’m down 100 per cent. I just don’t think he’ll do it.
“He is retired, and he has no room to talk. I’ll fight Daniel, that’ll be massive and I think I would win.”
