Paul has decided to keep the date that was slated for the blockbuster showdown with legendary heavyweight Mike Tyson and will instead face mixed martial artist and the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship’s “Platinum” Mike Perry in an eight-round cruiserweight bout at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
Paul was originally scheduled to face Tyson at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on July 20 in an event to be livestreamed on Netflix.
Tyson, 57, was forced out of the fight because of medical issues, and that fight was rescheduled for Nov. 15.
Rather than wait for the new date, Paul (9-1, 6 KOs) decided to not squander a training camp and will stay busy by facing the undefeated BKFC fighter in the event billed as “Fear No Man,” which 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 said in a statement 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.
“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.”
Also slated to compete is Amanda Serrano, whose highly anticipated rematch with Katie Taylor was also pushed to Nov. 15. Serrano (46-2-1, 30 KOs) will instead face Stevie Morgan (14-1, 13 KOs) in a 10-round junior welterweight bout that will serve as the co-main event. Serrano, 35, has been out of action since October 2023 and, like Paul, opted to stay busy rather than wait to compete in November.
ESPN
