Jake Paul has pledged to debunk any fight-fixing allegations as his boxing clash with Mike Tyson looms. Dubbed 'The Problem Child', Paul was scheduled to duel with 'Iron' Mike this weekend at the AT&T Arena in Arlington, Texas, before their July 20 event was delayed until November 16 due to Tyson's medical pullout.
The formidable 57-year-old has stepped down, making way for Paul to now lock horns with 'Platinum' Mike Perry - an ex-UFC scrapper with a formidable resume in bare-knuckle brawling - this Saturday night. Ever since his venture into boxing in 2020, Paul has been beset by claims of orchestrating outcomes.
Unfazed, the brash 27-year-old influencer-turned-boxer began carving a niche by knocking off other social media contenders like Deji Olatunji and AnEsonGib. Later, he escalated to sparring with seasoned UFC gladiators.
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With knockouts over Ben Askren, Anderson Silva, Nate Diaz, and Tyron Woodley adorning his boxing career, his solitary defeat emerged at the fists of Tommy Fury last February. Yet his impressive winning streak has skeptics crying foul over his upcoming feat against Tyson, pre-emptively tagging it as 'pre-arranged' if Paul triumphs, reports the Mirror.
In a media briefing ahead of the bout, a defiant Paul remarked: "A lot of people are doubting me, a lot of people are saying if Jake wins then the fight is rigged because of how great he looks. Age is just a number, he's a killer and he's a warrior. He's been doing this his whole entire life so it's second nature to him.
"I've been doing it for four years and I've been doing it at a super-high level but I'm going to prove I can out-box Mike Tyson. I'll be the one doing the killing."
Despite Paul and Tyson's highly anticipated bout being postponed, Perry is ready to step up and deliver a knockout performance against the social media sensation. At 32-years-old, Perry boasts a 5-0 record in BKFC, with impressive victories over notable fighters including Julian Lane, Thiago Alves, Michael 'Venom' Page, and former UFC champions Luke Rockhold and Eddie Alvarez.
Known for his brawling style, Perry has been involved in some of the most brutal fights in UFC history, including a 2019 bout with Vicente Luque where he fought to the final bell despite suffering a broken nose. Ahead of their highly anticipated clash this Saturday (July 20), Perry confidently said: "I know he's gonna hit me good, and I might like it - and I'm gonna hit him back, and he ain't gonna like it."
Paul, meanwhile, acknowledged the challenge ahead, admitting: "A lot of people think I'm crazy for pivoting to this," adding: "He takes punches like they're nothing, and he's fast, he's athletic, he hits hard, he's a brawler - and I can't take that lightly."
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