YouTube star-turned-boxing attraction Jake Paul is giving former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley the rematch he has been chasing after Paul’s opponent, Tommy Fury, suddenly dropped out because of health reasons.
Paul and Fury–the younger half-brother of heavyweight boxing king Tyson Fury–were set to fight in Tampa on Dec. 18, but Fury has bowed out. Paul confirmed on social media that Woodley would step in for the rematch.
“When my team woke me up on Friday to tell me Tommy was pulling out, I told them I’m ready to fight anyone on Dec. 18,” Paul said in one post shared to social media.
“Troy, Trey, Trevor, Travis. I don’t give a damn who it is. So, as I predicted Tommy Fumbles and Tyron is there to pick it up, stepping in, and contractually he is getting an extra $500,000 if he knocks me out. First time I outboxed him. This time I’m gonna punish him and leave no doubt.”
Fury also issued a statement about pulling out of the mega hyped boxing match.
“I am absolutely heartbroken that I have been forced to withdraw from my fight with Jake Paul due to a bacterial chest infection and broken rib,” Fury said in a statement. “I really do hope we can get this fight rescheduled in the new year. I want this fight to still happen more than anything.”
Paul, 24, initially said he’d give Woodley, 39, a rematch following their close fight but only if his opponent followed through on Paul’s pre-fight bet to get an “I Love Jake Paul” tattoo somewhere on his body.
Woodley eventually complied by getting inked on the middle finger of his left hand, although Paul moved on to Fury instead. Now, they will meet again in the boxing ring.
Woodley finally has a chance to get redemption after he was defeated by Paul via close split decision in Woodley’s pro boxing debut last August.
Paul, 24, has a 4-0 record in his brief boxing career, with two of his fights having taken place this year. He knocked out former Bellator and ONE champion Ben Askren in April and NBA veteran Nate Robinson in 2020.
The Paul-Woodley II card will also feature a special attraction fight pairing former NFL running back Frank Gore against ex-NBA point guard Deron Williams.
