Jake Paul’s fight with Tommy Fury is cancelled for the second time. Paul posted on Twitter that Fury had received a “termination notice” from him and that he was now moving on to a different opponent for his headline fight on Aug. 6 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Hasim Rahman Jr. is the opponent. Paul stated to ESPN on Thursday that Rahman Jr. was chosen to keep the card intact and finally complete the checklist of boxers he has faced.
Paul stated, “I am literally insane.” Paul said, “There is no reason why I should take this fight. … I want to prove that I’m a true boxer. And I’m going to go up against the 12-1 kid, who is faster than Tommy Fury and bigger than me — all of it. And I’m going to put on the show of my life and shut down everyone.”
Rahman Jr. is the son of Hasim Rahman, a former heavyweight champion. Rahman, a professional, is 12-1 and has six knockout wins. Paul used to sparring with Rahman. Rahman won his 12 first fights, before being knocked out by James McKenzie Morrison in the fifth round. James McKenzie Morrison is the son of Tommy Morrison, a former heavyweight champion.
Rahman addresses the one area Paul’s critics have focused on. He is a boxer who has competed at the professional level. This is in contrast to the mixed martial artists and social media personalities that make up Paul’s current 5-0 record.
Fury was denied entry to the United States last Wednesday, which caused him to miss a press conference to promote his fight with Paul. Fury, along with Tyson Fury, the heavyweight champion, were tied by Daniel Kinahan, an alleged Irish crime boss. Kinahan was one the founders MTK Global, which managed boxers and MMA fighters, including Fury. MTK Global was shut down earlier in the year by the U.S. sanctions.
Fury and Paul first met in December, when Fury was forced to withdraw due to a bacterial infection. Paul took over from Tyron Woodley in the sixth round.
