While Jake Paul has his share of critics in the boxing world, one of the sport’s elite, Terence Crawford, has expressed a surprising amount of respect for the YouTuber-turned-boxer’s abilities and dedication.

This past weekend, Jake Paul improved his record to 10-1, securing a fourth consecutive win with a dominant technical knockout victory over Mike Perry. Despite the impressive win, many notable figures in the fight community, including UFC superstar Conor McGregor, dismissed the bout as a mismatch, criticizing Paul for facing a much smaller opponent from Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC).

Despite the ongoing criticism, Paul has managed to earn respect from some of the most respected names in the industry. Among them is WBA super welterweight and WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford, who recently spoke highly of Paul’s progress and commitment to the sport.

“I gained a lot of respect for Jake because he’s not just a YouTuber boxing for fun. He actually trains hard and strives to improve,” Crawford said during an appearance on “The MMA Hour” this week. “He’s gotten better and really puts his time, focus, and energy into boxing. You gotta respect that… A lot of people write Jake off, but Jake can punch with that right. He’s got a nice right hand.”

Crawford, who holds an undefeated record of 40-0 with 31 knockouts, is widely regarded as one of the best pure boxers in the sport today and a top pound-for-pound fighter. His endorsement of Paul’s abilities carries significant weight in the boxing community.

Crawford’s comments highlight a broader trend of growing acceptance and respect for Paul within the boxing world, recognizing his dedication and the improvements he has made in a short period.

As Crawford prepares for his next bout on August 3rd against rising star Israil Madrimov, he acknowledges the importance of taking challenging fights and continuously pushing oneself, something he sees reflected in Paul’s journey.

Paul, who is set to face boxing legend Mike Tyson in November, continues to generate buzz and controversy in equal measure. His ability to draw significant attention and financial success to his bouts underscores his impact on the sport, despite the skepticism surrounding his matches.

For Paul, the upcoming fight against Tyson presents another opportunity to prove his critics wrong and solidify his place in boxing. Whether or not he can achieve this remains to be seen, but for now, he has earned the respect of a boxing champion like Terence Crawford, a testament to his hard work and perseverance in the sport.