Jake Paul’s Hulk Hogan Tribute: A Brooklyn Designer’s Big Break
In the glitzy world of celebrity boxing, Friday’s highly anticipated match between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua on Netflix isn’t just about the fighters. Behind the scenes, a talented 25-year-old Brooklyn-based fashion designer named Benny Goldberg is having his own moment in the spotlight. Goldberg created Paul’s elaborate Hulk Hogan-inspired fight outfit for an event expected to draw a staggering 50-55 million viewers. “To be able to share that work on such a big stage, for such a big audience, that’s what you dream of,” Goldberg told The Post. This commission represents a pivotal moment in the young designer’s career—his first major fight outfit since relocating from Los Angeles to New York and the debut project under his newly launched independent label, First Draft.
The journey began last September when Paul approached Goldberg with a bold vision: an outfit incorporating alligator skin, rattlesnake skin, and a comprehensive homage to his friend Hulk Hogan, the wrestling legend who passed away earlier this year. Initially intended for a November fight against Gervonta Davis that was subsequently canceled, Goldberg had just eight weeks to bring this ambitious concept to life. Despite the tight timeline, the designer embraced the challenge, recognizing it as a potential career-defining opportunity. “It was going to change my whole life,” recalled Goldberg, who received the inquiry while on a flight home to Michigan. Though the Davis match fell through after domestic battery allegations, Paul’s outfit remained ready for its moment—now set to debut in Friday’s high-profile bout against Joshua.
The resulting ensemble is a masterpiece of craftsmanship and personal significance. The jacket—which Paul will remove just before the opening bell—features yellow flames crafted from the skin of an alligator that Paul himself hunted near his Georgia ranch. The back showcases a nameplate made from rattlesnake skin, also personally hunted by Paul. For the remaining elements, Goldberg scoured New York’s famed garment district for premium materials, incorporating high-end satin along with red and yellow lambskin and leather. “Hogan was a huge motorcycle rider, so a lot of the design is inspired by vintage Harley and old NWO wrestling jackets,” Goldberg explained. The outfit also includes custom 3D-printed sunglasses—a contemporary interpretation of Hogan’s iconic yellow Oakleys—created in collaboration with designer Robbie Stinchcomb, whom Goldberg met through an exclusive Gen-Z dinner party network called 3rd Space.
The collaborative process highlighted for Goldberg the distinctive creative energy of his new home. “Working with [people like Stinchcomb] and these companies in the Garment District opened my eyes to the difference between New York and LA,” observed Goldberg, who relocated to Brooklyn in August 2025. “People here are ready to work. They respect the grind. It’s so much more my energy.” This cultural alignment has evidently fueled Goldberg’s creativity and professional growth. Though he previously led design and production at an LA-based brand—creating looks Paul wore in fights against Mike Tyson and Mike Perry—this latest project marks a significant evolution in his career trajectory, representing both his East Coast debut and his first major independent commission.
The significance of this opportunity isn’t lost on Goldberg. Boxing outfits aren’t merely athletic wear; they’re carefully choreographed statements that enhance a fighter’s persona and contribute to the theatrical spectacle of combat sports. In creating a tribute to Hulk Hogan, Goldberg wasn’t just designing clothes but participating in a cultural moment—connecting Paul to the legacy of one of combat entertainment’s most beloved figures while introducing a new generation of viewers to this aesthetic tradition. The outfit represents a fusion of luxury fashion, sports performance, and pop culture nostalgia, all wrapped in materials that tell the personal story of the fighter who will wear them.
When the project was complete, Paul flew Goldberg and his design team to Georgia for an in-person presentation. Despite typically feeling nervous before such high-stakes meetings, Goldberg found his anxiety quickly dispelled by Paul’s enthusiastic response. “He couldn’t believe it—he was ready to fight right then,” Goldberg recalled. This Friday, as millions tune in to the Netflix broadcast, they’ll witness not only a boxing match between two prominent fighters but also the public debut of a Brooklyn designer’s vision—a colorful, meticulously crafted ensemble that honors wrestling history while announcing Goldberg’s arrival on fashion’s main stage. For both Paul and Goldberg, the night represents a chance to make a statement, each in their own arena. While Paul aims to prove himself in the ring, Goldberg’s designs will silently assert his place among fashion’s rising stars who are redefining the intersection of sports and style.
