Jake Paul will not wait for November 15 to step back into the boxing ring. Initially slated to fight the legendary heavyweight Mike Tyson on that date, Paul has decided to keep the original event date and will instead face mixed martial artist and Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship’s “Platinum” Mike Perry in an eight-round cruiserweight bout. The fight will take place at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
Paul was originally set to face Tyson at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on July 20, with the event to be livestreamed on Netflix. However, due to medical issues, the 57-year-old Tyson was forced to withdraw, leading to the fight being rescheduled for November 15.
Rather than waiting for the new date, Paul (9-1, 6 KOs) chose to maintain his momentum and utilize his training camp by facing the undefeated BKFC fighter in an event titled “Fear No Man.” The bout will be available via DAZN Pay Per View.
“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,” Paul stated to ESPN. “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.”
Paul expressed confidence in his upcoming fight, promising fans an exciting preview of what to expect when he eventually faces Tyson. “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.”
Perry (5-0, 3 KOs BKFC) spent seven years competing in MMA and debuted with the UFC in 2016. He had a UFC record of 7-8 before departing the promotion to sign with BKFC in 2021. The pivot to bare-knuckle fighting has seen Perry, 32, become the promotion’s biggest star, with wins over the likes of former UFC champions Luke Rockhold and Eddie Alvarez. His victory over the latter earned him the symbolic “King of Violence” championship.
“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.”
This bout against Perry is seen as a crucial step in Paul’s preparation for the highly anticipated showdown with Tyson, providing him with valuable experience and keeping him active in the ring.
