This story was originally published by Dead Spin
Jake Paul (9-1, 6 KOs) returns to the ring Saturday night for the second time in 2024.
But instead of the summer blockbuster with Mike Tyson, the former heavyweight champion and arguably one of the greatest boxers of all time, it’s BKFC standout Mike Perry in the ring for his second career boxing match (0-1).
Paul has quickly established himself as a boxer to watch. Some pundits and experts still doubt his boxing ability given that his lone fight against a trained boxer with previous in-ring experience was a losing effort in February 2023 against Tommy Fury.
Perry spent five years in the UFC. He had a record of 7-8 before departing the promotion in 2021. Despite his below-.500 mark in the Octagon, he did earn notable wins against long-time veterans Paul Felder and Jake Ellenberger.
Perry has found success in BKFC and currently maintains a five-fight winning streak against a mix of former UFC champions and ex-contenders, including Eddie Alvarez, former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, and current welterweight contender Michael Page.
Perry’s last bare-knuckle win came in April, knocking out ex-UFC welterweight title challenger Thiago Alves and needing less than a round to get the victory.
Although Paul and Perry showed a level of respect for one another at Thursday’s pre-fight press conference in Tampa, Fla., it remains all business come fight night.
“The skills is what pay the bills,” Paul said. “And he has no footwork, no head movement, no defense. He’s a great offensive fighter and bare-knuckle, but in terms of boxing, he’s going to get picked apart very quickly, and it’s going to be a short night. Like I said, my predictions are never wrong, so I stand on business every single time I manifested into reality. I, Jake Joseph Paul, will knock out Mike Perry in less than two rounds. It’s going to happen; put money on it.”
Perry has competed in combat sports for over a decade. He said Paul was mistaken for discrediting his boxing ability.
“Don’t worry, you’re going to get what you’ve been asking for—the fight to go longer than one round,” Perry said. “[I’m going to] give you hell in the first round, and you’ll get tired. You’re going to be grasping for air. I made a new word, grasping.”
Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry Ruleset
Paul and Perry are far from a circus.
The bout will take place as the main event of a nine-fight card contested across eight, three-minute rounds using traditional boxing rules. Both men are required to meet the 200-pound weight limit.
The pay-per-view broadcast gets underway at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and can be purchased through multiple platforms, including DAZN, PPV.com and inDemand.
Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry Prediction
A fight with Perry is anything but a tune-up for the 27-year-old ex-YouTuber. But practically speaking, the squared circle is Paul’s arena of choice. Barring fatigue, flat-footedness, or an apparent injury, Paul should be able to use his crisp strikes to land the KO shot and punch (literally and figuratively) a ticket to the anticipated date with Mike Tyson on November 15 in Arlington, Texas.
Prediction: Jake Paul defeats Mike Perry via KO (Round 6).
