Published by: Bear Acuda
Hate him or love him, Jake Paul knows how to put on a show.
In a spectacular display in Orlando, Florida, the “Problem Child” landed a first-round two-hit knockout against Andre August, marking a pivotal moment in his attempt to become a legit name in boxing. Paul, with a record of 8-1, including 5 KOs, aims to be a serious contender in the cruiserweight division.
Delivering a powerful right uppercut, Paul sent August crashing to the mat, leading the referee to call off the fight with just 28 seconds left in the round. Paul, joined by his brother Logan Paul (WWE’s United States champion and another social media influencer-turned-star), had his typical headline-snatching post-fight interview, emphasizing his journey towards becoming a world champion and his dominance over his opponents.
Previously, Paul’s initial six bouts were crossover events, mainly against ex-MMA fighters. His seventh fight, however, ended in a decision loss to Tommy Fury, Tyson Fury’s brother. The match on Friday night marked a strategic shift for Paul, focusing more on gaining experience in the ring rather than just fame as he pursues a title in the 200-pound category.
Jake Paul, determined to achieve his goal of world championship status in boxing, faced his most seasoned opponent yet in August, who had a 10-2-1 record with 5 KOs. August had recently returned from a nearly four-year hiatus, winning a decision in a six-round fight in August (confusing, but purely coincidental, I’m sure).
Paul, reflecting on his journey from Disney Channel to the boxing ring, expressed his focus and dedication to becoming one of the greatest sports stories in history.
I suppose being a child-star of Disney and escaping without a debilitating drug habit is something to celebrate.
In the co-main event, Franchon Crews-Dezurn (9-2, 2 KOs) had the upset of the night, defeating Shadasia Green (13-1, 11 KOs) to reclaim the WBC super middleweight title. The judges scored the fight 98-92, 97-93, and 97-93 in favor of Crews-Dezurn. This bout was for the 168-pound title left vacant after Savannah Marshall was named champion-in-recess due to injury.
The 36-year old from Baltimore, Crew-Dezurn, was ranked No. 3 by ESPN in the 168-pound category, while New Jersey’s Green, 34, ranked No. 2, faced her first defeat in this match.
