By Ryan Niven

After boxing icon Mike Tyson tasted defeat against Ex-Disney kid and social media influencer Jake Paul the scale of the event is an indicator that influencer boxing is taking over.

in 2017 YouTubers Joe Weller and Theo Baker took part in a boxing fight uploaded to their respective channels. This one off event turned an idea into a phenomenon . Fast forward seven years we have seen the emergence of influencer boxing take over and gain a whole new audience for the sport of boxing. Instead of fans tuning into Dubois V Usyk you have a whole new generation watching Salt Papi V Slim.

With reports that 60 million households tuned into the spectacle that took place in the early hour of Saturday morning this shows a clear switch from traditional boxing to influencer boxing. these numbers dwarf number for traditntal boxing fights with Mayweather v McGregor only achieving four million in pay-per-view buys.

Influencer stars such as KSI,King Kenny and slim are making a name for themselves over on influencer boxing company Misfits Boxing. At the start of last year DAZN signed a five year deal to show influencer boxing on their platform. In recent years we have seen traditional boxers such as Idris Virgo and Tommy Fury transition into the influencer boxing scene.

Jake Paul is the most successful and influential of the stars with him taking on the likes of Tommy Fury,Nate Diaz,Mike Perry and now Mike Tyson. No matter your opinion of the controversial and outrageous social media star there is no doubt he brings eyes to the sport which in a time when fans were losing confidence with traditional boxing is a major plus factor.