YouTube sensation-turned professional boxer, Jake Paul has announced that he will face former UFC Welterweight champion, Tyron Woodley on August 28 on SHOWTIME pay-per-view.
Paul, who has amassed over 20m subscribers on YouTube, announced his fourth professional fight against Woodley on Twitter on Tuesday, who makes his professional debut, with a venue still to be confirmed.
‘The Problem Child’ campaigns for the first time on SHOWTIME having signed a deal with the network earlier this month.
The 24-year-old is yet to go past three rounds, having stopped fellow YouTuber, AnEsonGib inside a round on his debut in January 2020.
Paul then knocked out former NBA star, Nate Robinson in two rounds in November 2020 and most recently, retired UFC fighter, Ben Askren who he halted in a round in April – an event he claims sold over 1.5m pay-per-view buys on Triller.
The Athletic’s Mike Coppinger was first to report news of the fight on Monday, whilst ESPN’s Ariel Helwani was first to report the date of the bout on Tuesday.
Tuesday’s announcement comes in the same week of his brother Logan Paul’s exhibition with former undefeated, five-weight world champion, Floyd Mayweather Jr at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Sunday.
The Ohio native clashed with Mayweather last month at a press conference, stealing his cap which sparked wild scenes, with the pair separated by security.
Paul has already vowed to secure a fourth straight victory by knockout.
“Dear, @TWooodley thanks for being the second MMA fighter on my hit list. August 28th the 5x UFC champion is getting knocked out by a Disney actor,” Paul posted on Twitter.
Can Woodley upset Paul?
Woodley won the UFC Welterweight championship in 2016 and seven of his 19 wins have come by knockout, with five by submission, which on paper appears similar to Askren, who registered six victories by knockout and six by submission, although Woodley is renowned for being a striker.
Perhaps crucially though, Woodley has been more active than Askren was, last fighting in March 2021, albeit a defeat by submission to Vicente Luque.
‘The Chosen One,’ whose UFC contract ended in April, is without a win since September 2018 and has lost his last four fights in the UFC, whilst at 39-years-old there will be questions marks whether his best days are behind him.
Paul taunted fellow UFC fighter, Daniel Cormier at UFC 261 and has been linked with a future fight with Tommy Fury, unbeaten Light Heavyweight and brother of WBC Heavyweight world champion, Tyson Fury, with the ‘Gypsy King’ calling for the pair to fight.
