By: Sean Crose
Give Jake Paul this—the guy is still going strong. After a novelty fight with Mike Tyson in July was postponed (if not canceled outright), the social media influencer turned professional boxer might have been feeling calm. But that’s not Paul’s style. Instead of relaxing over the summer, Paul decided to challenge himself. So the fighter known as “The Problem Child” will face Mike Perry on Saturday night in Tampa, Florida. The eight-round bout is scheduled to be the main event of DAZN’s pay-per-view.
While Perry has only boxed professionally once—a loss in 2015—the 32-year-old from Flint, Michigan has won five straight since entering the world of bareknuckle boxing in 2022. Indeed, big-name fighters like Luke Rockhold and Eddie Alvarez have fallen victim to Perry in close quarters. And, while bareknuckle boxing is not the same as modern professional boxing (which is ironic, considering that bareknuckle boxing evolved into modern professional boxing in the late 1800s), there are clear similarities between the two sports—namely, the ability to punch with maximum efficiency and the ability to use fluid footwork.
In short, Paul may lose to Perry on Saturday night. But that’s what makes the 27-year-old Ohio native so interesting. Sure, Paul has punching power, and sure, he’s developed his skills over the years, but Paul’s ability to take serious challenges has a lot to do with what has been a very successful professional run so far. Even when he loses—as he did to Tommy Fury a few years ago—Paul refuses to be broken. He may not have the talent of the best boxers, but Paul deserves credit for blazed a trail that no one has ever walked before.
