Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry – Is It Needed?
Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry has been announced for July 20, but is boxing fight the right move by the Problem Child?
The eight-rounder at cruiserweight is an alternative to the Mike Tyson bout, which was postponed. Tyson withdrew from the fight due to health concerns. The boxer suffered an inflamed ulcer on a flight from Miami to Las Angeles on May 26. While Tyson’s team assured him he was fine, Mike pulled out, and the fight will now take place on November 15.
Paul vs. Perry
After defeating Tommy Fury, Paul secured three wins on the bounce. He defeated Nate Diaz, Andre August and Ryan Bourland. The wins over August and Bourland were significant as they were against pro-boxers. It signalled to the fans that Paul was moving away from facing non-pro boxers, as he was praised. However, the decision to fight Perry is seen as going backwards. Perry has only had one boxing fight in his career.
In 2015, he took on Kenneth McNeil, only to get knocked out. Although Perry is undefeated with a 5-0 record, his boxing experience is limited. Paul would have been better off facing lower-ranked boxers or pursuing a fight with KSI. KSI does have experience against pro boxers, having lost out to Tommy Fury. Perry has rejected the fight to face Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on the Paul vs. Tyson card. This was because the purse for the fight was too low. That may be why Perry took this fight. A fight with Paul will earn him more, but is he here to win?
Reaction
“When Paul vs. Tyson was rescheduled, I knew immediately that I wanted to still fight on Saturday, July 20. Now, as I prepare for my fight against Iron Mike, there’s no better opponent for me than Mike Perry. He’s a proven knockout artist who has shown to be a maniac in and out of the ring.
This is the perfect experience for me to gain in advance of facing Mike Tyson. But getting that experience comes with risk. Those who know me know I’m a risk taker and while ‘Platinum’ Perry might try to end me, I’m Titanium Jake Paul and I fear no man. I’m going to get the W and give everyone a preview of what I’m bringing to the ring against Mike Tyson. Tune in on DAZN PPV as I return to Tampa and send ‘Platinum’ Perry the Platypus back to bare knuckle for good,” Paul
“Jake Paul claims he fears no man, but on Saturday, July 20, the world will see the truth: he just made the worst mistake of his life in trying to get through me before Iron Mike,” Perry said. “I’m going to make it look easy on Saturday, July 20th, and I’m going to teach Jake Paul the most he’s ever learned about fighting,” Perry
Should It Happen?
The fight against Perry is critical as a defeat will prevent the Mike Tyson fight. It is also a new way for Paul to increase his fanbase. He has already faced former UFC fighters Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley and Diaz. Meanwhile, he is currently signed with the PFL as he seeks to make his MMA debut. Now, the Problem Child will expose himself to a new market in the form of BKFC.
Conor McGregor recently became a part-owner of BKFC as the brand seeks to expand its ventures. Any publicity from Paul will only help his cause. Wins against Perry and Tyson will earn Paul huge paydays for fighting people who are not pro-boxers, or in the case of Tyson, someone who is no longer a pro-boxer.
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