Esteemed boxing trainer Theo Chambers, who now guides Jake Paul`s career in the ring, initially wanted nothing to do with the YouTube personality turned boxer.
Chambers, also known as `Third`, comes from the renowned Kronk gym in Detroit, made famous by the legendary coach Emanuel Steward.
His coaching resume includes working with world champions such as Andre Dirrell and Cornelius Bundrage, but most notably J`Leon Love.
Love, a former super-middleweight contender who trained at Floyd Mayweather`s Las Vegas gym, has been part of Paul`s team since his professional boxing debut. He was the one who attempted to recruit Chambers.
Recalling the initial offer, Chambers told SunSport: “I said no! I was training world class fighters, ranked fighters.”
“When he said YouTube, I didn`t even know what that meant at the time. And then when I actually found out what it meant, then I really wasn`t interested.”
However, Love eventually convinced Chambers to watch Paul`s 2022 bout against UFC legend Anderson Silva.
Paul`s performance in that fight, and his subsequent twelve-round distance fight against Tommy Fury a year later (despite a split-decision loss), were key in changing Chambers` mind.
Chambers explained: “Every fight that Jake had, J`Leon was there, so he would always call me before the fights. `Hey, watch it on TV, watch it, watch it.`”
“And you know, because I love J`Leon, he`s my brother and I`ve been training him since he was 15 years old, so I watched the kid.”
“And it ain`t so much me looking at skill-wise, it`s where`s his heart? Where`s his passion at to even be a boxer.”
“But when he fought Anderson Silva, that`s what let me know that he had it in him.”
“Then when he fought Fury, even, even in his loss with Fury, with me, he won.”
“So then when they came back around to me, `Would you train Jake?` I said yes, I will train Jake.”
Paul hired Chambers following his defeat to Fury, replacing his former coaches BJ Flores and Danny Smith.
Under Chambers` guidance, Paul has secured five consecutive victories, including his recent controversial match against 58-year-old Mike Tyson in November.
Paul, now 28, is set to return to the ring this Saturday against 39-year-old former middleweight world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, competing at cruiserweight.
A victory could potentially earn Paul a surprising WBC ranking, putting him in contention for Badou Jack`s belt.
Chambers stated: “I like to be challenged. So I like my guys to be challenged. These MMA guys, they do not stand a chance with Jake Paul.”
“So I would like to see him fight guys like Chavez, guys like Badou Jack.”
Jake Paul`s boxing journey continues this weekend in Anaheim, California, as he takes on experienced fighter Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Chavez Jr, 39, is a former world middleweight champion and represents one of Paul`s most credentialed boxing opponents to date, aside from the recent bout with Mike Tyson.
