Jake Paul hinted at a potential bare-knuckle fight with Mike Perry, who doubts Paul’s willingness to follow through, while both fighters express confidence in their respective abilities ahead of their upcoming boxing match.
Jake Paul claimed he was a “crazy motherf*cker” when hinting at a future showdown against Mike Perry in a bare-knuckle fight. “The King of Violence” isn’t buying it.
Just after their boxing match on July 20 was announced, Paul touted his interest in potentially facing Perry in either MMA or a bare-knuckle fight. He wanted to prove he could beat the 32-year-old veteran anywhere and everywhere.
“I want to do an MMA fight and I think Perry is actually a good opponent for MMA and maybe bare-knuckle,” Paul said on The MMA Hour in June. “I haven’t thought about it but I’m down.”
While Perry didn’t hesitate to sign up for a boxing match with Paul after Mike Tyson suffered health problems that forced him to delay his own Paul matchup until November, the former UFC fighter-turned-BKFC superstar scoffs at the idea that Paul would actually consider taking off the gloves to fight him with bare knuckles.
“One thing I want to remind Jake over and over again is that he wouldn’t do a bare-knuckle fight,” Perry told MMA Fighting. “Whether he says he would or not, especially after this fight in 10-ounce gloves."
"He wants to bring it up like ‘boxing is this incredible sport and these hooligans are out there doing this bare-knuckle stuff’ and blah, blah, blah."
“I’m going to beat him with 10-ounce gloves on. He definitely won’t want to do bare-knuckle after that.”
There’s little doubt that Paul would be at a disadvantage going into a bare-knuckle fight against somebody as experienced as Perry. Perry sports a perfect 5-0 record in BKFC including wins over ex-UFC champs Luke Rockhold and Eddie Alvarez.
An argument could be made that Perry faces a similar uphill battle against Paul in the boxing ring by giving up a lot of size, weight, and experience. The social influencer holds a 9-1 record in his professional career.
Perry doesn’t see it that way but has no problem playing the underdog until fight night.
“I have accolades that the rest of his competitors did not,” Perry explained. “I’m 6-0 in the last couple years."
"I fought a pro boxer who had a really good record and lots of experience in the ring; seven two-minute rounds.”
“I’ve sparred Jake before for free. He tried to pay me but I told him I didn’t want it."
"I didn’t want that money back then. I was trying to get more work and more experience but that was back when I was still in the UFC."
"I’ve just been working towards this, and it’s a great opportunity for me and my professional boxing record.”
In the lead-up to the fight, Paul has often predicted he expects to finish Perry with a vicious knockout—just like his past two opponents.
Perry pointed out while Paul may have beaten up journeymen fighters who offered little resistance, it was just three fights ago that Paul went ten rounds with UFC veteran Nate Diaz.
On that night, Paul did score a knockdown on Diaz but couldn’t get the finish before ultimately settling for a unanimous decision win.
“He wasn’t able to finish Nate Diaz in a ten-round boxing match,” Perry said. “I know Nate is very durable."
"And I’d say I’m just as durable if not more than Nate Diaz is."
"Nate’s smart; he fought at slower pace. I don’t plan on doing that—I plan on bringing pain to Jake.”
“I’m going put pressure style on him—a Mike Tyson brawler style boxing is what I bring.”
"I’m putting pressure; getting inside; slipping side-to-side; ripping straights, hooks, jabs—body shots."
"I wanna work body; break sides down; make him tired dealing with me."
"Just stop putting pressure no matter what he does.”
For all talking and predictions since fight announcement, Perry remains adamant about how matchup will play out.
Paul may start strong—but Perry promises he’ll finish late.
“I said seventh-round knockout—TKO if you will,” Perry said. “Looking make Jake take knee."
"Fall down—hit hard—not stand still let me land best shot."
"Have time it; set up; put pressure; wear him down over time."
"Hit body—find lumps side head—and eventually by seventh round if not eighth—I’d like finish last round too.”
“Gotta stop him—put pressure—overwhelm—and give ref no choice but step in stop me punching.”