Jake Paul to face Hasim Rahman Jr. after Tommy Fury drops out
Now it’s Jake Paul vs. Hasim Rahman Jr. on Aug. 6.
Paul, the YouTuber-turned-boxer, lost opponent Tommy Fury this week because the Briton couldn’t get into the United States. Instead, Paul will face the son of the former heavyweight in a 200-pound bout at Madison Square Garden, Paul told ESPN.
Rahman (12-1, 6 KOs) will be the most-experienced boxer Paul (5-0, 4 KOs) will have faced. Rahman has been fighting as a heavyweight.
Paul believes he faces a tougher challenge against Rahman than he would’ve against Fury, the half brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. Some have criticized Paul’s opposition.
“I’m literally crazy,” Paul told ESPN. “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 go in there against this 12-1 kid who is bigger than Tommy Fury, faster than Tommy Fury, all of these things.
“And I’m gonna put on the performance of a lifetime and just shut everyone up.”
Paul’s partner in his promotional firm, Nakisa Bidarian, reportedly advised his client not to fight Rahman.
“I don’t see the benefit of doing the fight at this stage, given all the other opportunities that are there for Jake,” Bidarian said. “He can prove himself against a 6-0 boxer or a 5-0 boxer, someone who is just there to build their record to lose to someone like Jake. That’s not what he wanted; he wanted to truly challenge himself.
“Him and his coaching team believe that they can beat Hasim Rahman Jr. They believe they can finish Hasim Rahman Jr.”
Rahman’s father, Hasim Rahman Sr., is best known for knocking out Lennix Lewis to win the heavyweight championship in 2001. He was stopped by Lewis in an immediate rematch.
The younger Rahman, who is 31, turned pro in 2017. He suffered his lone loss in April, a fifth-round knockout against unbeaten James McKenzie Morrison.
