Jake Paul Now Set to Face Hasim Rahman Jr. on Aug. 6 Following Fury Withdrawal

On just over a month’s notice, YouTuber Jake Paul has a new opponent for his upcoming boxing match at Madison Square Garden.

Paul (5-0, 4 KOs) had been previously linked to a cruiserweight battle against Tommy Fury (8-0, 4 KOs) on the Aug. 6 pay-per-view boxing event in New York. In June, however, Fury found that he was not allowed to enter the U.S. due to his ties to notorious crime boss Daniel Kinahan and the Kinahan Cartel, and he has been forced out of the fight for these reasons. In his stead, according to ESPN on Thursday, will be Hasim Rahman Jr., a professional boxer with a 12-1 record sporting six knockouts. The fight will now be contested at 200 pounds, and it has been scheduled for eight rounds.

Rahman Jr., the son of two-time heavyweight champ Hasim Rahman, has followed in his father’s footsteps with decent results thus far. While only three of his first 12 opponents held winning records when he faced them, Rahman Jr. amassed a clean record of 12-0 on his way up. In April, the fighter nicknamed “Gold Blooded” squared off against unbeaten James McKenzie Morrison for the vacant WBC U.S. heavyweight belt, and he fell short by fifth-round knockout. The heavyweight has fought as high as 269 pounds, doing so in 2021, while his lightest in 2018 had him clock in at 211.75 pounds. He has yet to take on an opponent that weighed 220 pounds or less.

The YouTube sensation-turned-boxer will still be taking on his first foe that has won a pro boxing match, as his previous five wins came over debutants and a rematch against a man in Tyron Woodley that he beat previously. This will be the second time that a bout with Fury has fallen apart, and Paul claimed in an interview with ESPN that the logistical issues are not what keeps Fury from competing.

“We don’t even know if he actually got denied entry to the United States. He doesn’t want the fight; he doesn’t want the smoke. He sees me putting people down. He knows how strong, powerful I am,” Paul confidently remarked, as transcribed by ESPN.

Both Paul and Rahman have met in the past, according to Paul, as they sparred together a year and a half ago. The ever-brash Paul, however, could not admit that he got the better of his sparring partner in the exchanges.

“He’s obviously a lot bigger than me,” Paul remarked, after pointing out that the sparring session was a “really tough session”. “It’s really interesting to deal with…I’m a way better fighter now. I’m sure he’s a better fighter now. We’re going to see who improved more over the last 18 months.”

Despite a myriad of disadvantages including size and experience, Paul claimed that he was up to the challenge.

“I’m literally crazy,” Paul admitted. “There’s no reason why I should be taking this fight. I want to prove to the boxing world that I’m a real dog, which I am…and I’m gonna put on the performance of a lifetime and just shut everyone up.”

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— Tommy Fury (@tommytntfury) July 7, 2022

Fury posted a statement on Thursday morning, lamenting the situation that led to his withdrawal.

"I'm gutted and disappointed in regards to the issues I have faced with entry into the USA," Fury wrote. "This is something that myself or my team could have never anticipated happening. This situation has been left with my lawyers as being denied entry to a country is obviously a very serious issue and it needs to subsequently be resolved.

"I am confident this fight will happen when this issue gets resolved and we come to a solution. I want to clarify that I will fight in a neutral country that both parties can enter. This can be any time, any place, any where [sic]," Fury concluded.

Never one to let the last word pass by, Fury had a quick comeback to his former opponent on Twitter.

"I'm confident you are a scared little boy who doesn't want to fight or understand business," Paul taunted. "I will pay you $500K to fight me in the U.K. I will do it shortly after August 6. You accept?"