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Tyron Woodley vs. Jake Paul Announced For August 29th

Posted byBy Rhett Butler | Published on: CommentsComments (0)

Tyron “The Chosen One” Woodley will make his professional boxing debut against Jake “The Problem Child” Paul on Sunday, August 29 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio, live on SHOWTIME PPV.

“Look at my resume,” said Woodley. “Look at all the up-and-coming fighters who they gassed up and what happened to them. None of them landed a punch. So many people come up to me on a daily basis and say, you have to knock this guy out.

For Paul, it is the toughest test of his burgeoning boxing career when he squares off against the former UFC champion in the main event of a professional boxing event in his hometown.

“This is my make-or-break fight,” said Paul. “The MMA community is counting on Tyron. They want to see me fall, but he’s not going to be able to get the job done.

Woodley, a decorated mixed martial arts champion and striking specialist, held the UFC title from 2016 to 2019. The fight will be an eight-round cruiserweight main event, which will be contested at a 190-pound catchweight.

Woodley formerly was the 170 lb welterweight UFC champion. He recently began training with Floyd “Money” Mayweather, Jr.

“It was a good opportunity working out with Floyd Mayweather. He showed me some of the things it takes to be a world-class boxer. In MMA, sometimes, we waste energy and use movement without purpose. Everything I do and everything I throw is going to hurt him. My feints are going to hurt him. It’s going to make his body shake.

The undercard will feature Puerto Rican star and WBC/WBO Featherweight World Champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano defending her titles against super bantamweight world champion Yamileth Mercado.

The 24-year-old Paul (3-0, 3 KOs) is a YouTube-based content creator turned boxer. He began his professional boxing journey in January 2020 and has proven to be an influential participant in the sport’s landscape with his outsized personality and quickly developing skillset.

The Cleveland-native is fighting out of Puerto Rico under the eye of former pro boxing contender B.J. Flores, training Jake from his first professional fight. After knocking out YouTube star AnEsonGib and former NBA star Nate Robinson in his first two outings, Paul did quick work of former MMA champion Ben Askren in April with a first-round knockout.

With the win over Askren, Paul notched his first victory over a seasoned professional fighter and now takes on an even more significant challenge in Woodley.

“I grew up going to Cavs, Browns and Indians games on the weekends, dreaming as a little kid of one day being in a position to put on a show for my hometown like they did,” said Paul.

“On August 29, that dream comes true. My biggest challenge to date, in front of the city that made me, on pay per view for the world to see me knockout a UFC champion. I’m also thrilled to have Amanda Serrano on this card. She stands out as the most prolific KO artist in women’s boxing. What a night this is going to be!”

Fighting out of St. Louis, Missouri, Woodley (19-7-1 MMA record) has a storied career in combat sports. He became UFC champion in July 2016, defeating Robbie Lawler in the first round, and went on to defend his title successfully four times.

Before competing in the UFC, Woodley fought in the Strikeforce MMA promotion on SHOWTIME and compiled an 8-1 record from 2009 through 2012. Widely considered one of the most dangerous punchers in UFC history, Woodley earned 14 of his 19 wins through TKO or submission.

“I’m a grown ass man,” said Woodley. “I don’t play games with kids. They brought me in to take the trash out. You’re welcome!”

Serrano is the most decorated fighter in women’s boxing history with a professional record of 40-1-1 with 30 knockouts. She was born in Puerto Rico and raised in Brooklyn, New York, where she trains alongside her sister, former featherweight champion Cindy Serrano.

The 32-year-old has won titles in every division between 115 and 140 pounds, earning belts in those two divisions just four months apart with fights in September 2018 and January 2019. Serrano won her WBC and WBO featherweight world championship belts in a high-profile showdown against Heather Hardy in 2019. She defended her titles with a knockout win over three-division world champion Daniela Bermudez in March.

Chihuahua, Mexico’s Mercado (18-2, 5 KOs), has held the super bantamweight title since November 2019 and will look to become a two-division champion on August 29 when she challenges Serrano.

The 23-year-old won the title via unanimous decision over Fatuma Zarika, avenging a previous defeat to Zarika in Mercado’s first attempt. Mercado rides a six-fight winning streak into this showdown, including victories over Julissa Guzman and previously unbeaten Angelica Rascon in 2021.

The fight is the first live sporting event co-produced by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions. Paul will be an Executive Producer of the event, signaling a new era in how celebrity meets athletic contracts are orchestrated.

“I haven’t been hit in three fights. That’s a fact. I just want to add some experience to my belt. I want to fight Canelo Alvarez in three years. I want to be a world champion. Tyron is the perfect person to maybe get me to the third round.”

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