Jake Paul secured a sixth-round TKO victory over bare-knuckle fighter Mike Perry on Saturday in Tampa, Florida, during an eight-round cruiserweight boxing match.
Paul’s win preserved his scheduled November 15 showdown with the legendary Mike Tyson, originally set for this date. The social media sensation turned boxer knocked Perry down three times before the referee stopped the fight at 1:12 of Round 6.
“He’s incredibly tough, but my punches were just too powerful,” Paul commented. “Mike Tyson, you’re next. I’m ready for anyone, anywhere, anytime.”
Despite being the -475 favorite according to ESPN BET, Paul revealed he was sick before the fight and that his knuckle was nearly broken.
Perry, 32, became the latest former UFC fighter to be defeated by Paul. Paul (10-1, 7 KOs) has previously beaten Tyron Woodley, Nate Diaz, and Ben Askren. At 27, Paul was noticeably larger and had a three-inch height advantage. Perry (0-2) from Orlando, Florida, usually fights at 175 pounds in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
CompuBox Punch Statistics
| PUNCHES | PAUL | PERRY |
|---|---|---|
| Total landed | 96 | 33 |
| Total thrown | 226 | 122 |
| Percent | 43% | 27% |
| Jabs landed | 52 | 11 |
| Jabs thrown | 142 | 49 |
| Percent | 37% | 22% |
| Power landed | 44 | 22 |
| Power thrown | 84 | 73 |
| Percent | 52% | 30% |
Paul, hailing from Cleveland, initiated a flash knockdown in the first round with a sharp right hand. He dominated the fight with his superior jab and footwork. A jab followed by a right hand floored Perry 30 seconds into Round 2. Perry made a strong comeback in Round 3, even cutting Paul above the left eye. However, by Round 4, Paul had regained control, landing several combinations that rocked Perry into the ropes before the final sequence.
“You were too fast for me, and I couldn’t adjust,” Perry admitted. “He’s not waiting to be hit like me.”
Perry’s only other boxing match resulted in a fourth-round KO loss to Kenneth McNeil in May 2015. He debuted in the UFC a year later, holding a 14-8 MMA record, with all his losses occurring in the UFC. Perry’s BKFC record stands at 5-0, with his last fight in April.
Paul will next face Tyson in an eight-round heavyweight bout on November 15 in Arlington, Texas, with 14-ounce gloves. Tyson had to withdraw from the initial event due to an ulcer flare-up during a flight in May.
This victory marks Paul’s second fight of 2024, following a first-round KO against Ryan Bourland in March in Puerto Rico.
“In two years, I’ll be the cruiserweight champion of the world,” Paul declared. “I’m sharper and cleaner now. He barely landed a punch tonight. It’s back to the drawing board for me to keep improving.”
Amanda Serrano Sets Up Rematch with Katie Taylor
Amanda Serrano achieved a second-round TKO victory against Stevie Morgan in the junior welterweight co-feature, paving the way for a November 15 rematch with Katie Taylor.
Serrano, a former seven-division champion, easily handled Morgan, who was fighting at the top level for the first time. Puerto Rico’s Serrano (47-2-1, 31 KOs) overwhelmed Tampa’s Morgan (14-2, 13 KOs), landing multiple powerful shots until the referee intervened.
“These girls mistake my kindness for weakness,” Serrano, ESPN’s No. 3 pound-for-pound boxer, noted. “If you’re not on my level, this is what happens. I knew she lacked experience, and it might have been too much for her.”
CompuBox Punch Statistics
| PUNCHES | SERRANO | MORGAN |
|---|---|---|
| Total landed | 58 | 10 |
| Total thrown | 126 | 52 |
| Percent | 46% | 19% |
| Jabs landed | 13 | 3 |
| Jabs thrown | 45 | 16 |
| Percent | 29% | 19% |
| Power landed | 45 | 7 |
| Power thrown | 81 | 36 |
| Percent | 56% | 19% |
Serrano was fighting for the first time since October, after an allergic reaction to hair braiding gel canceled her Puerto Rico homecoming event in March.
She now looks forward to a rematch with Taylor for the undisputed junior welterweight championship. Their first encounter in April 2022 at Madison Square Garden was the largest fight in women’s boxing history.
Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) won that bout by split decision, retaining her undisputed lightweight title. The rematch was initially set for May 2023 in Dublin, but Serrano’s injury delayed it.
“Can’t wait to face you again,” Serrano said. “This time, it’s going to be very different.”
