CLEVELAND — Jake Paul takes his third fight in nine months, but this one is his most formidable foe to date when he faces Tyron Woodley on Sunday from the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Paul’s hometown of Cleveland, Ohio.
In November on the co-main event of Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr., the social-media-influencer-turned-boxer scored a thudding second-round knockout over former NBA star Nate Robinson. Then in his first fight of 2021, Paul violently KO'd former Bellator champion and UFC star Ben Askren in April.
Woodley comes in making his professional boxing debut. The former UFC welterweight champion enters the contest on a four-fight losing streak. The setbacks were against current 170-pound titlist Kamaru Usman, former title challengers Gilbert Burns and Colby Covington, and rising contender Vicente Luque.
Paul and Woodley's animosity actually started in the locker room before the former stepped into the ring with Askren. After that, they started spewing verbal assaults back-and-forth until the fight was announced at the beginning of the summer.
Anticipation reached a high on Thursday when the Paul and Woodley fight camps nearly came to blows after the press conference. Pushing, shoving, and vulgar language occurred before both parties were escorted out of the area.
Paul and Woodley officially made weight on Saturday. Things appeared to go off without a hitch until Paul did an interview when the weigh-ins concluded.
Woodley walked over and handed him something. Paul tossed it and then stuck his finger in Woodley's throat. Again, both fight camps went at it. Finally, police and security intervened and separated the Paul and Woodley teams.
Now, the score will be settled inside the ring in an eight-round cruiserweight affair.
Here's everything you need to know about Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley.
Date: Saturday, August 21
Main card: 8 p.m. ET/1 a.m. BST
Main event (approx): 10:30 p.m. ET/3:30 a.m. BST
The Paul vs. Woodley main card kicks off at 8 p.m. ET/1 a.m. BST before the headliners make their walks to the ring at approximately 10:30 p.m. ET/3:30 a.m. BST. That depends on how long the earlier fights run.
U.S.: Showtime pay-per-view
UK: BT Sport
In the United States, boxing fans can purchase the Paul vs. Woodley main card on Showtime pay-per-view for $59.99. It can also be live streamed through the Showtime app. In the United Kingdom, fans can see the fight on BT Sport.
The Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio will play host to Paul vs. Woodley. The bout will mark the first time Paul and Woodley compete in the venue
Nationality: American
Born: January 17, 1997
Height: 6'1"
Reach: 76 inches
Total Fights: 3
Record: 3-0 with 3 knockouts
Nationality: American
Born: April 7, 1982
Height: 5'9"
Reach: 74 inches
Total Fights: 0
Record: 0-0