Jake Paul defeated former UFC fighter Mike Perry via TKO at the 1:12 mark of the sixth round in a boxing match on Saturday at Amalie Arena in Tampa.
The bout saw Paul dominate early, dropping Perry three times throughout the fight. The first knockdown came in the opening round, followed by another in the second, and the final decisive drop in the sixth round.
Paul set up the finish by wobbling Perry with an overhand left, then unleashed a barrage of punches against the ropes, sending Perry to the canvas. Although Perry managed to get back on his feet, the referee waved off the fight, declaring Paul the victor.
Throughout the match, Paul controlled the pace, effectively using his jab to keep Perry at bay and utilizing his movement to evade Perry’s more powerful shots. Perry had a brief moment of resurgence in the third round, landing punches that caught Paul’s attention. However, Paul regained control from the fourth round onwards, leading to his TKO victory.
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With this win, Paul improved his professional boxing record to 10-1, with seven of those victories coming by knockout. He is now on a four-fight winning streak, having secured his last three wins inside the distance.
Looking ahead, Paul is set for a high-profile boxing match against former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, scheduled for November 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with the event streaming on Netflix. This fight was initially planned for July 20, but Tyson withdrew in May due to a medical issue. In its place, Most Valuable Promotions arranged the Paul-Perry match on short notice.
Despite focusing on Tyson as his next opponent, Paul also called out UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira during his post-fight interview.
“Alex Pereira, you said you want to box,” Paul stated. “I’m the king of this. Come over, we can make it happen. I want you, Alex Pereira. I just beat a BKFC champion, I’ve beaten multiple UFC champions. He said he wants to box, so Alex Pereira, after Mike Tyson, let’s make it happen.”
For Perry, this fight marked his professional boxing debut after transitioning from a successful career in UFC to bare-knuckle fighting under the BKFC banner. He acknowledged Paul’s skill and speed post-fight.
“I was trying to roll with the punches and hit your ass back,” Perry said to Paul afterward. “You did a great job. You were way too fast for me and I couldn’t adjust.”
This loss was Perry’s first defeat in combat sports since his final UFC appearance in 2021. Since joining BKFC, Perry has become a prominent figure in the promotion, winning five consecutive fights against notable opponents, including former UFC champions Luke Rockhold and Eddie Alvarez.
Both fighters expressed interest in a potential rematch, whether under MMA or BKFC rules.
“Yeah, it’d be fun,” Paul said. “I’m down for it all. I love combat. I love going to war. This is what I was destined for. And in two years, I will be the cruiserweight champion of the f—–g world.”
Paul’s victory against Perry solidifies his position in the boxing world, while Perry’s performance, despite the loss, showcases his versatility and willingness to challenge himself across different combat sports.
