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Andreas Hale, ESPN
Jake Paul will not wait for Nov. 15 to get back into a boxing ring. Paul has decided to keep the date that was slated for the blockbuster showdown with legendary heavyweight Mike Tyson and will instead face mixed martial artist and the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship’s “Platinum” Mike Perry in an eight-round cruiserweight bout at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
Paul was originally scheduled to face Tyson at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on July 20 in an event to be live streamed on Netflix. Tyson, 57, was forced out of the fight due to medical issues and the fight was rescheduled for Nov. 15.
Rather than wait for the new date, Paul (9-1, 6 KOs) decided to not squander a training camp and will stay busy by facing the undefeated BKFC fighter in the event billed as “Fear No Man” and be available via DAZN Pay Per View.
“When Paul vs. Tyson was rescheduled, I knew immediately that I wanted to still fight on Saturday, July 20. Now, as I prepare for my fight against Iron Mike, there’s no better opponent for me than Mike Perry,” Paul said in a statement to ESPN. “He’s a proven knockout artist who has shown to be a maniac in and out of the ring. This is the perfect experience for me to gain in advance of facing Mike Tyson. But getting that experience comes with risk. Those who know me know I’m a risk taker and while ‘Platinum’ Perry might try to end me, I’m Titanium Jake Paul and I fear no man.
“I’m going to get the W and give everyone a preview of what I’m bringing to the ring against Mike Tyson. Tune in on DAZN PPV as I return to Tampa and send ‘Platinum’ Perry the Platypus back to bare knuckle for good.”
Perry (5-0, 3 KOs BKFC) spent seven years competing in MMA and debuted with the UFC in 2016. He had a UFC record of 7-8 before departing the promotion to sign with BKFC in 2021. The pivot to bare knuckle fighting has seen Perry, 32, become the promotion’s biggest star with wins over the likes of former UFC champions Luke Rockhold and Eddie Alvarez. His victory over the latter earned him the symbolic “King of Violence” championship.
“Jake Paul claims he fears no man, but on Saturday, July 20, the world will see the truth: he just made the worst mistake of his life in trying to get through me before Iron Mike,” said Mike Perry. “I’m going to make it look easy on Saturday, July 20th, and I’m going to teach Jake Paul the most he’s ever learned about fighting.”
Also slated to compete is Amanda Serrano, whose highly anticipated rematch with Katie Taylor was also pushed to Nov. 15. Serrano (46-2-1, 30 KOs) will instead face Stevie Morgan (14-1, 13 KOs) in a ten-round junior welterweight bout that will serve as the co-main event. Serrano, 35, has been out of action since October 2023 and, like Paul, opted to stay busy rather than wait to compete in November.
“I’ve already been preparing for a fight on Saturday, July 20, and even though I’ll now be waiting a little longer for my rematch with Katie Taylor, this is an opportunity for me to face another tough boxer in Stevie Morgan in Tampa,” said Serrano. “My opponent has 13 KOs, more than almost every other active female boxer, but I fear no woman — I embrace the war. I look forward to seeing all my Puerto Rican fans in Tampa for my 50th professional fight to show the world my skills at super lightweight, live on DAZN PPV.”
Morgan, 35, was born and raised in Tampa, Florida, but has competed primarily in Colombia since turning pro in 2022. Although a majority of her wins have come by knockout, she will see a massive step up in competition when she faces Serrano.
“We’ve been training for an opportunity like this, and I want to give full respect to Amanda for all she has done in her career and for women’s boxing,” said Morgan. “In this sport, though, in order to make a name, you have to take a name. I have 13 KOs and nothing will be sweeter than making Amanda Serrano number 14. Come fight night on Saturday, July 20 there will be fireworks!”
The card will also feature a pair of unbeaten lightweight prospects as amateur rivals Tony Aguilar (12-0-1, 4 KOs) and Corey Marksman (9-0-1, 7 KOs) square off in a rematch. The two last met in February and battled to a split draw on MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects series.
Undefeated lightweight prospect Ashton “H2O” Sylve (11-0, 9 KOs) is also scheduled to appear on the card. The 20-year-old was originally set to face fellow unbeaten lightweight Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield on July 20. Unfortunately, Schofield suffered an injury and will not be available to face Sylve. An opponent for Sylve will be announced in the coming days.
“The stakes are high for every single one of MVP’s fighters stepping into the ring on Saturday, July 20. For Jake and Amanda, the pressure is on to emerge with a W against two very dangerous opponents in Mike Perry and Stevie Morgan,” said Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions. “Jake Paul is facing a monster in Mike Perry. Amanda Serrano is going in there with a fighter who has 13 KOs in 15 fights. Nothing is a given for our two superstars.”