Jake Paul will box Hasim Rahman Jr. inside Madison Square Garden in just under a month’s time.
Paul, the YouTuber-turned-prizefighter, was scheduled to take on Tommy Fury on August 6 in New York City but the Englishman was refused entry to the United States ahead of a press engagement last week; a saga which eventually culminated nine or so days later with a new opponent being announced. It is the second time that Fury has been unable to fulfil a scheduled bout with Paul after he withdrew from their initially-agreed fight last December through injury.
In place of Fury will come another fighter with a famous last name. Hasim Rahman Sr. is a former heavyweight champion and is best known for winning the WBC, IBF, and IBO heavyweight titles from Lennox Lewis with a stunning fifth-round finish in 2001, in a what was arguably the biggest upset in heavyweight boxing since James ‘Buster’ Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson eleven years prior.
His son, Hasim Rahman Jr., is 12-1 as a professional boxer and has previously sparred with Paul.
✅ Bigger
✅ Stronger
✅ More experienced
✅ KO powerBut it doesn’t matter. They don’t have my heart, don’t have my drive & definitely don’t have my team.
August 6 I’m showing the world that Jake Paul is a bad mother fucker.
Press conference & ticket on-sale Tuesday 1pm ET. pic.twitter.com/sYAvCr0Cxu
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) July 7, 2022
“Bigger. Stronger. More experienced. KO power,” wrote of Paul of his new opponent. “But it doesn’t matter. They don’t have my heart, don’t have my drive & definitely don’t have my team. August 6 I’m showing the world that Jake Paul is a bad mother f*cker.”
Prior to Rahman Jr. being confirmed as Paul’s opponent, Tommy Fury released a statement saying that he would be open to fighting Paul in “neutral country that both parties can enter.” Paul responded, saying he would pay Fury $500,000 for a bout in the UK — with Fury subsequently disregarding the offer until Paul was “ready to have a serious conversation.”
