YouTube star-turned-prizefighter Jake Paul described his fight against bare knuckle champion and mixed martial arts star Mike Perry next month in Tampa as an “appetizer” for his November bout against former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson.
“He’s like a little mozzarella stick on the sampler platter,” Paul said Wednesday, “because he fights the same like Tyson and has that same killer attitude and instinct. It’s just keeping me sharp and active for when I go against Tyson.”
Paul will face Perry in an eight-round cruiserweight fight July 20 at Amalie Arena. The event, billed “Fear No Man,” also will be available on DAZN pay per view.
“I need to be sharp, stay focused and know that I have a dangerous, wild Mike Perry in front of me,” Paul said. “I’m going to be as sharp as I possibly can be, not make any mistakes and finish him early.”
Paul (9-1, 6 knockouts) said Perry (5-0, 3-0 KOs BKFC), undefeated in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship competition, has endurance that serves as his biggest strength.
“He’s very wild and has an unorthodox style,” Paul said. “He has great cardio, and he can take a lot of shots. So, he’s basically like a zombie. I need to decapitate him to end him.”
The fight replaces the one originally scheduled between Paul and Tyson in July. Tyson had an ulcer flare-up on a flight in late May that required him to seek medical attention and pause his training.
The rescheduled Paul-Tyson bout will take place Nov. 15 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas.
Paul said Tyson has many advantages over him, so the Perry fight will give him something to have over the boxing legend.
The fight won’t be Paul’s first in Tampa. He opposed former UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley in December 2021 in a rematch of a fight Paul won by split decision nearly four months earlier. Paul-Woodley II set the record for the highest combat sports gate in Amalie’s history.
“I love fighting in Florida,” Paul said. “The fans always show out and are rowdy. It’s close to (Paul’s) home in Puerto Rico. Mike Perry’s a Florida guy. And Tampa was fun last time, so we wanted to run it back.”
Paul knocked out Woodley in the sixth round to move to 2-0 against him. His performance was voted ESPN Ringside’s 2021 Knockout of the Year. Repeating the feat is one of his goals for next month’s match.
“Experience and fun,” Paul said. “I look to (win more awards and set more records), and give the Tampa fans another amazing night. That’s really what I’m focused on.”
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