Jake Paul is embarking on a new chapter in his boxing journey as he seeks to defy the odds.
Paul (7-1) is set to face Andre August (10-1-1) in an eight-round cruiserweight bout on Dec. 15 at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Fla. The fight will headline MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 4 and be included in the standard DAZN subscription package.
Prior to this, Paul focused on facing MMA stars but is now shifting his focus to professional boxers. He sees August as a significant step in that direction.
“This is my road to becoming a world champion,” Paul told MMA Junkie. “When I’ve said that and uttered those words, I think people took it as a joke or, ‘He’s just saying that to market himself or make himself a bigger fighter or ruffle feathers and get media headlines and stuff,’ but they didn’t actually think I was being serious. I’m dead serious. That is what I’m going to do, and this is the step in that direction.
“We’ve done the big pay-per-views. We’ve generated $200 million in sales, and this is now taking a step back from like business, and MMA fighters, and big names, to just grow my experience, to stay sharp, to elevate my level of opposition and to fight real pro boxers who have been doing this their whole life. He’s more experienced than me, (has) more knockouts than me, (is) 10-1, a beast, and he’s going to come to fight.”
Although “The Problem Child” lacks experience, the 26-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer believes his athleticism will carry him until his experience catches up.
“I think I could do it quickly because of my focus, my dedication, and my athleticism,” Paul said. “It turns out I’m more athletic than 99.9 percent of boxers in terms of running, jumping, weight lifting, squatting, punching power. But, what I don’t have that they have is the decades of experience.
“So, I’m on like this crash course to get all of those things, but it’s backed by this extreme athleticism. No boxer that has ever come to camp has beaten me in a jog, beaten me in a sprint, beaten me on the bench press, beaten me on the squats. So, that I have to my advantage, and I think I can get there in two to three years.”
Sarah Foster is your guide to the world of Mixed Martial Arts. With a deep understanding of MMA’s intricacies and a passion for the sport, she offers comprehensive coverage of MMA events, fighter profiles, and in-depth analysis of fights. Sarah’s commitment to the octagon ensures that readers stay engaged with the latest developments in the MMA world.
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