Jake Paul will enter the boxing ring with Hasim Rahman Jr. next month at Madison Square Garden, the YouTube star told ESPN on Thursday.
Paul’s previously planned opponent for Aug. 6 in New York was Tommy Fury, but that fight fell through after the latter was barred entry into the United States.
Paul (5-0) and Rahman (12-1) will meet in an eight-round bout contested at 200 pounds.
Rahman, 31, whose father of the same name is a former world heavyweight champion, has more ring experience than Paul, 25.
“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.”
Rahman weighed 224 pounds in his last match and has fought as heavy as 269 pounds in his career.
Paul weighed 191 pounds for his most recent bout, a sixth-round knockout of Tyron Woodley on Dec. 18 in Tampa, Fla.
–Field Level Media