Editor’s note: This article was originally published at MMAJunkie.com.
Retired former two-division boxing champion Tim Bradley has no problem with YouTube star Jake Paul crossing over into his sport.
Bradley believes Paul has been unfairly criticized throughout the process of starting out his fighting career. Bradley, who went 33-2-1 and fought some of the biggest names of his time such as Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Márquez and others, said Paul is not doing anything differently from any up-and-coming boxer.
Paul has been criticized by many for the level of opposition he’s been facing in his young career, but Bradley has no problem pulling the curtain and letting the public that’s how it’s normally done.
“You have to understand, when you’re fighting the guys coming up, you typically fight guys that are less than you,” Bradley told Fight Hub TV. “I’ve seen professional fighters, blue-chip prospects fight against MMA guys, retired MMA guys. I’ve seen that. That’s how you build your record.
“The fact that he did that, everyone gave him a bad rap for that. Now he picks a guy in Rahman’s son that has experience, he’s been around the sport his whole entire life because of his father. That says a lot about him.”
Paul is currently undefeated in boxing at 5-0, with wins over formal MMA champions Tyron Woodley and Ben Askren. And he continues to publicly feud with UFC president Dana White over fighter pay, as well as calling for fights with UFC stars Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz.
Paul has an upcoming fight against Hasim Rahman Jr. on Aug. 6 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
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