Jake Paul will fight former UFC star Mike Perry this summer after his clash with Mike Tyson was pushed back to November.
Paul and Tyson were due to meet in Texas on July 20 but the heavyweight legend was forced to delay the bout due to poor health. Paul and Tyson will now clash on November 15 - but will Paul will fight Perry on the original date. Former UFC star Perry has been plying his trade in bare-knuckle boxing and has long called for a fight with Paul. He won 14 of his 22 fights in the UFC and has won each of his five bouts with BKFC.
He has, however, been fighting at middleweight (170lb) and could weigh in 30lb lighter than Paul who has been preparing to take on Tyson at heavyweight and ballooned to 230lb before their fight was postponed. It is believed Paul did not want to wait until the winter to fight with Perry the first-choice opponent to replace Tyson.
Jake Paul said: “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.”
Mike Perry added: “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. 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 has called Paul out several times, including when the YouTuber announced his fight with Tyson. Perry told TMZ: "' Jake Paul, man. If he hurts Mike Tyson, bro, let me get that. He's not doing bareknuckle, but I wouldn't put it past Jake Paul because he's been doing stuff that people would say he's afraid of and things like that.
“That's partly what drew me to bare-knuckle was that so many were worried about it or afraid of it. Jake man, I'm definitely issuing you a challenge. If you get through Mike Tyson, test yourself for real and let's have a street fight.
"I'd like to say I'm beating him as fast as he's beating these taxi drivers, especially bare-knuckle. I'll hurt him and he'll cry and run away and cower in the corner in the fetal position."