On just over a month’s notice, YouTuber Jake Paul has
a new opponent for his upcoming boxing match at Madison Square
Garden.
Paul (5-0, 4 KOs) had been previously linked to a cruiserweight
battle against Tommy Fury (8-0, 4 KOs) on the Aug. 6 pay-per-view
boxing event in New York. In June, however, Fury found that he was
not allowed to enter the U.S. due to his ties to notorious crime
boss Daniel Kinahan and the Kinahan Cartel, and he has been forced
out of the fight for these reasons. In his stead, according to
ESPN on Thursday, will be Hasim Rahman Jr., a professional
boxer with a 12-1 record sporting six knockouts. The fight will now
be contested at 200 pounds, and it has been scheduled for eight
rounds.
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Rahman Jr., the son of two-time heavyweight champ Hasim Rahman, has
followed in his father’s footsteps with decent results thus far.
While only three of his first 12 opponents held winning records
when he faced them, Rahman Jr. amassed a clean record of 12-0 on
his way up. In April, the fighter nicknamed “Gold Blooded” squared
off against unbeaten James McKenzie Morrison for the vacant WBC
U.S. heavyweight belt, and he fell short by fifth-round knockout.
The heavyweight has fought as high as 269 pounds, doing so in 2021,
while his lightest in 2018 had him clock in at 211.75 pounds. He
has yet to take on an opponent that weighed 220 pounds or less.
The YouTube sensation-turned-boxer will still be taking on his
first foe that has won a pro boxing match, as his previous five
wins came over debutants and a rematch against a man in Tyron
Woodley that he beat previously. This will be the second time
that a bout with Fury has fallen apart, and Paul claimed in an
interview
with ESPN that the logistical issues are not what keeps Fury
from competing.
“We don’t even know if he actually got denied entry to the United
States. He doesn’t want the fight; he doesn’t want the smoke. He
sees me putting people down. He knows how strong, powerful I am,”
Paul confidently remarked, as transcribed by ESPN.
Both Paul and Rahman have met in the past, according to Paul, as
they sparred together a year and a half ago. The ever-brash Paul,
however, could not admit that he got the better of his sparring
partner in the exchanges.
“He’s obviously a lot bigger than me,” Paul remarked, after
pointing out that the sparring session was a “really tough
session”. “It’s really interesting to deal with…I’m a way better
fighter now. I’m sure he’s a better fighter now. We’re going to see
who improved more over the last 18 months.”
Despite a myriad of disadvantages including size and experience,
Paul claimed that he was up to the challenge.
“I’m literally crazy,” Paul admitted. “There’s no reason why I
should be taking this fight. I want to prove to the boxing world
that I’m a real dog, which I am…and I’m gonna put on the
performance of a lifetime and just shut everyone up.”
— Tommy Fury (@tommytntfury)
July 7, 2022
Fury posted a statement
on Thursday morning, lamenting the situation that led to his
withdrawal.
“I’m gutted and disappointed in regards to the issues I have faced
with entry into the USA,” Fury wrote. “This is something that
myself or my team could have never anticipated happening. This
situation has been left with my lawyers as being denied entry to a
country is obviously a very serious issue and it needs to
subsequently be resolved.
“I am confident this fight will happen when this issue gets
resolved and we come to a solution. I want to clarify that I will
fight in a neutral country that both parties can enter. This can be
any time, any place, any where [sic],” Fury concluded.
Never one to let the last word pass by, Fury had a quick comeback
to his former opponent on Twitter.
“I’m confident you are a scared little boy who doesn’t want to
fight or understand business,” Paul taunted. “I will pay you $500K
to fight me in the U.K. I will do it shortly after August 6. You
accept?”