‘Boxing is healing’: Internet reacts to the loss of Jake Paul and Andrew Tate

In a weekend that many online spectators described as “poetic justice”, two of the most polarising figures in influencer boxing were handed humbling defeats. Jake Paul and Andrew Tate, both known for their brash confidence and confrontational online personas, lost high-profile bouts within 48 hours of each other.

The back-to-back setbacks sparked a wave of schadenfreude across social media, with the phrase “boxing is healing” quickly emerging as the internet’s verdict on the weekend.

Jake Paul’s defeat sets the tone

The reaction began after Jake Paul suffered a decisive loss to Anthony Joshua at a Riyadh Season event. Paul, who built his boxing career on carefully selected opponents and constant online bravado, was stopped in emphatic fashion. Clips of the knockout spread rapidly, with many viewers framing the result as a reminder that boxing ultimately rewards experience and discipline over hype.Across platforms, comments focused on the contrast between Paul’s pre-fight confidence and the reality inside the ring. Many users described the result as a reality check, with recurring remarks suggesting that “boxing humbles everyone” and that confidence alone does not translate into skill.

Andrew Tate’s bloody debut fuels online mockery

Less than a day later, attention shifted to Andrew Tate’s long-hyped professional boxing debut at Misfits Boxing 23, where he lost by unanimous decision to Chase DeMoor.

Tate, fighting for the first time since 2014, was visibly bloodied by the final bell, with a severe cut around his eye becoming one of the most shared images of the weekend.Fans and critics alike seized on the symbolism. Many comments mocked Tate’s “Top G” persona, arguing that the performance did not match years of online claims about toughness and dominance. Others highlighted DeMoor’s superior conditioning and composure, framing the fight as a clear win earned through preparation rather than posturing.

KSI’s post amplifies the backlash

The viral moment of the weekend came when KSI, co-founder of Misfits Boxing and a long-time rival of both Paul and Tate, shared a split image showing a shocked Jake Paul alongside a bloodied Tate. The post quickly racked up tens of thousands of likes and replies, intensifying the online pile-on.Replies under the post ranged from celebratory jokes to blunt one-liners suggesting that the weekend represented a turning point for influencer boxing.

Many comments linked the two losses together, presenting them as proof that loud personalities eventually meet their limits in the ring.

As clips and memes spread, the phrase “boxing is healing” gained traction across X, Instagram, TikTok and Reddit. The slogan became shorthand for a shared sense of satisfaction among critics who have long accused influencer boxing of prioritising spectacle over skill.Comments repeated similar themes: that hype does not equal ability, that boxing remains unforgiving, and that the sport has a way of exposing overconfidence.

Some posts framed the weekend as a rare moment where outcomes aligned with public scepticism.

Not everyone celebrates

Amid the mockery, a smaller number of voices urged restraint. Some fans pointed out that Tate was returning after a decade away from boxing, while others argued that Paul stepping into the ring with a former heavyweight champion was always going to end badly. A few comments praised both men for actually fighting, even if the results were brutal.Tate himself struck a defiant tone after the bout, saying it was better to try and lose than not try at all. Supporters echoed that sentiment, framing the loss as a learning moment rather than an ending.

A defining weekend for influencer boxing

Whether celebratory or critical, the reaction was unmistakable. Paul’s knockout loss and Tate’s bloody defeat dominated online conversation, reinforcing boxing’s reputation as a sport that ultimately cuts through image and bravado.

For many viewers, the weekend served as a reminder that the ring offers no protection from reality.As memes continue to circulate and debates rage on, one thing is clear: the internet rarely misses an opportunity to savour a dramatic downfall. For now, “boxing is healing” has become the slogan of a weekend that reshaped the narrative around influencer fighters.