Famous YouTube star and boxer Jake Paul was set to face former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson on July 20, but the fight was postponed after Tyson suffered a "medical scare" on a recent flight. The medical scare was deemed to be an ulcer flare-up, and Tyson is expected to make a full recovery.
Initially, the boxing match between Tyson and Paul was set to move forward, even after the scare, but it was revealed that Tyson couldn't train fully in preparation for the fight. The boxing match set for July 20 was then pushed to Nov. 15. Though many expected Paul to wait, he reportedly has chosen to face off against a new opponent on July 20.
According to multiple reports and MMA legend and insider, BJ Penn, Paul will face off against former UFC and current Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship star, Mike Perry. So far, an official announcement has not been made but Paul and his Most Valuable Promotions company will reportedly announce the fight on Wednesday.
What makes this situation even more confusing is that there are no details on whether or not Paul will still face off against Tyson in November, or if the bout with Perry will be an exhibition. Still, this could be a good fight between the pair.
Perry spent the majority of his MMA career with the UFC, securing a 14-8 record since he began fighting with the promotion back in 2014. However, the infamous fighter began to get involved in controversies outside of the octagon, including a fight where Perry knocked a man out cold. He was also heavily criticized for a video that appeared online showcasing Perry saying racial slurs.
Perry would eventually make his exit from the UFC and join the BKFC. He would make his BKFC debut on Feb. 19, 2022, securing a unanimous decision against Julian Lane.
After a successful debut, Perry has gone on to secure an undefeated 5-0 record in the BKFC, besting former UFC fighters like Luke Rockhold, Eddie Alvarez, and Thiago Alves.
Paul has had a string of victories since losing his first professional boxing match against Tommy Fury in Feb. 2023. After beating former UFC fighter Nate Diaz on Aug. 5, 2023 by unanimous decision, he also knocked out Andre August on Dec. 15, 2023, and Ryan Bourland on March 2, 2024.
Paul will reportedly return to the ring to take on Perry in what could be his toughest challenge yet. Perry is a notoriously tough fighter who has heavy power. However, he has only a little over a month to train for this upcoming boxing match.
