Yahoo Sports Jake Paul's only loss led him to retool the team preparing him to face Mike Tyson
Tommy Fury did more than hand Jake Paul his first loss on Feb. 26, 2023.
He prompted Paul to overhaul his core team, in which the YouTuber-turned-boxer has put his faith as he heads into his fight with Mike Tyson on Friday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
From the renowned Kronk Gym in Detroit, Paul brought in Theotrice (Third) Chambers as his new head coach. He was paired with J’Leon Love, another product of Kronk. Later, in came Larry Wade, a strength and conditioning coach who started in the world of track and field.
In those men Paul has placed his trust.
“And on Friday people are going to see me outbox the person who's been doing it their whole life because of my team,’’ Paul said, referring to Tyson on Tuesday during open workouts. “Everyone that's putting the work with me, coach Third, coach J (Love), coach Larry, we're unstoppable force.’’
Indeed, since Paul’s loss to Fury by unanimous decision, he has won four straight bouts, three by knockout.
MORE: Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul VIP fight package costs a whopping $2M. Here's who bought it.
Jake Paul pulls stunt with coach
A videoclip from the night of Paul’s fight against Mike Perry on July 20 suggests Chambers is a perfect match for Paul.
Chambers is seen fake-slapping Paul in the boxer’s locker room in what looked like a WWE moment. The caption posted on the Theo Third Chambers PARODY account on X: “Me if Jake doesn’t get the KO tonight.’’
Not only did Paul get the KO, he knocked Perry down three times before finishing him off by TKO in the sixth round.
It was the perfect combination of zany YouTuber and ascending boxer.
The pot-bellied Chambers, in his early 50s, stands 5-4 and is an unassuming former pro boxer. He went 10-3 with eight knockouts between 1990 and 1993 and has said his career ended because he suffered a detached retina.
He also said he spent time working in real estate before heading back to his boxing home, the Kronk Gym, and embarking on a career as a trainer.
The key to his joining Paul’s camp was a recommendation from Love, the longest-tenured member of Team Paul. The Kronk Gym products have worked to elevate Paul to the next level. So far, so good.
Jake Paul depends on two more in camp
Before Paul’s second pro fight, which was on the undercard of Tyson’s exhibition against Roy Jones Jr. in 2020, he took steps to be prepared. That included sparring against quality fighters such as Love, 37, who at the time was a super middleweight with a record of 24-3-1.
After Paul knocked out retired NBA player Nate Robinson in brutal fashion on the Tyson-Jones undercard, Love hailed the YouTuber’s boxing prowess.
"He can make it," Love told TMZ at the time. "He already has made it because he has the push of the fans. The skill set is there."
With Paul facing a legion of doubters, Love fought once more and since has dedicated himself to Paul’s rise.
While Love and Chambers have developed Paul’s boxing technique, Wade has taken Paul onto the track as part of the strength and conditioning routine. The payoff could be increased stamina, providing a potential advantage over the 58-year-old Tyson.
Although Wade, 49, started his career working with sprinters, he’s excelled in the world of boxing. His clients include Shawn Porter, a two-time world welterweight champion; Caleb Plant, a former IBF super middleweight champion; and Badou Jack, a former world cruiserweight and super middleweight champion.
Follow Josh Peter on social media @joshlpeter11
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Team Jake Paul: Who is helping fighter prep for Mike Tyson bout?
