What’s Next For Jake Paul After Dismantling Mike Perry?

Jake Paul defeated Mike Perry with a sixth-round stoppage, which included three knockdowns, raising question marks over his next steps. 

Paul took his record to 10-1 after coming through with a dominant win. The victory kept his hopes of boxing Mike Tyson alive. Iron Mike pulled out of the July 20 fight as Perry stepped in, as they will now face off in November. The fight with Tyson will be the first target. The bout will air on Netflix in a historic fight where the network airs its first-ever boxing bout. 

Tyson’s last appearance in a ring was against Roy Jones Jr. in a 2020 exhibition, an event which sold over a million PPVs. That goes on to show the demand is there to see Tyson fight. The pre-sale tickets for Paul-Tyson were also in huge demand. 120,000 people had signed up while the Perry fight struggled to sell.

Paul’s Preference

The ticket prices for the Perry fight were reduced, showing that the Tyson fight was much bigger. After his win, Paul called out Tyson for the fight. He also FaceTimed UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira for a fight.

 “He’s tough as nails, I’m sorry it took so long, respect to Perry, the King of Violence, I hit too hard and produced too much damage. Mike Tyson, you’re next big boy, sign the contract, 15 November on Netflix. [UFC champion] Alex Pereira, you said you want to box, I’m the king of this, come over, we can make this happen. Indeed, I’ve beaten multiple UFC champions, he said he wants to box.

“100 percent, it’s happening, 15 November, he’s training and looking crazier than ever, Netflix, I’ll prove everybody wrong. Everybody said I was making a mistake with this fight, but I take risks. I didn’t feel very good tonight, I was sick, my knuckle is swollen. It was basically broken before the fight. It didn’t delay this fight [so why would it delay the Tyson fight?], I’m a warrior,” Paul stated

Paul’s Other Options

There is a chance to run things back with Perry in MMA or bare-knuckle. Paul was clear that he wanted to make his MMA debut soon. He offered Nate Diaz a chance to do that, with a $10 million offer after beating him on the MMA fighter’s boxing bout. Donn Davis, the PFL Chairman, did increase the offer to $15 million. The fight never got made, as Diaz faced Jorge Masvidal. But there are reports that Diaz has struggled to get his full purse for that fight, with conflicting reports that he has filed a lawsuit to get paid. Now, Perry could be an alternative. 

Elsewhere, Paul could increase the level of opposition and face more pro boxers. He has boxed three pro fighters, with two wins and a loss. He lost to Tommy Fury but bounced back to beat Andre August and Ryan Bourland. Paul has been linked with the Fury rematch. He lost a split decision but did drop Fury with his jab, showing he could hold his own. 

Could It Be Pimblett?

Paddy Pimblett has also expressed his interest in facing Paul. Pimblett has his last fight under his UFC contract at UFC 304. He takes on Bobby Green on July 27. He has indicated his desire to face Youtube boxers while also mentioning Paul. Pimblett has a big social media following, making it an appealing fight. It would fit into Paul’s narrative of facing popular fighters with a big following. Meanwhile, there is also a potential to face Pimblett in MMA should they box. Pimblett would be a free agent with nothing to hold him down to the UFC. Paddy has called out Paul for a boxing fight. 

“If Jake Paul sends a contract over for a couple of million dollars, lad, and wants to fight me, let’s do it… We’re prize fighters at the end of the day. That’s what people forget. We’re prize fighters, we do this to get paid. It’s all about money.

“Give Jake Paul his dues for that one. I didn’t think he’d fight someone like Mike Perry. He’s fought a load of…clowns. He fought Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley when they were both over 40, and Anderson’s a Thai boxer and Woodley’s a wrestler. But, Mike Perry is a boxer, he’s a striker, he’s got hands. So I’ll be honest, Jake Paul has gained a little bit of respect from me for that,” Pimblett said

Jake has plenty of options moving forward, but the front runners are Tyson and then Pereira.

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