JAKE PAUL announced he will return against his most experienced opponent yet in Ryan Bourland.
The YouTuber-turned boxer knocked out cruiserweight boxer Andre August in the first round in December.
He will make a quick return on March 2, featuring on the undercard of Amanda Serrano’s Puerto Rico homecoming.
And 17-2 Bourland – a former national amateur champion – will be the man to welcome Paul back to the ring for his tenth professional bout.
Paul wrote online: “The goal is simple, build the skillset to become world champion.
“Next up is a guy who has twice as many professional fights under his belt than I do. Ryan “The Rhino” Bourland.
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“And just like the animal in his bone chilling nickname… he is also endangered.”
Paul, 27, suffered defeat for the first time last year, losing a split-decision to Tommy Fury, 24, in Saudi Arabia.
But he returned in the August to defeat ex-UFC star Nate Diaz, 38, on points over eight rounds.
Paul then revealed he would change his career trajectory but facing traditional boxers with less profile to build experience.
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And 10-1-1 August, 35, was the first seasoned boxer that the social media sensation beat following a vicious right uppercut.
Now Bourland, 35, will be the next but the veteran warned he is coming to take it all from Paul.
He said: “Jake Paul steps into the ring with his social media clout, but let’s not mistake followers for experience or skill.
“While he’s been busy chasing likes, I’ve been honing my craft for years, stepping into the ring and beating real boxers.
“On Saturday, March 2 I will shock the world and put an end to Jake Paul’s boxing career.”
Bourland – an ex-Golden Gloves champion and junior Olympics boxer – is coming off a fifth-round TKO of Santario Martin in September 2022.
It was his third victory on the spin but he did retire in 2018 and only returned before the win over Martin.
So Paul – who insisted fans will never be satisfied with his choice of opponent – is likely to have expected backlash on his next fight.
One fan said: “What a joke.”
Another fumed: “Another day another nobody.”
But one argued: “Seems like a step up. A lot more experience at least.”
Another agreed: “Another step up from Jake. You won’t be seeing boxers at the beginning of their career doing stuff like this.”
Paul insisted the fight – on regular DAZN not pay-per-view – is the next step in his ambitious road to a world title shot.
And he reaffirmed that his purse will be donated to his Boxing Bullies charity to renovate more gyms.
Paul said: “I’ve always said my goal is to become a world champion. I beat a pro boxer in December in the first round, someone who’s been boxing their entire life, and what did I do next?
“I went straight back to camp to get ready to face my next opponent, a professional boxer who has twice as many professional fights under his belt than I do.
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“It’s a new year, it’s an even better me, and I’m facing an even more experienced, seasoned boxer on Saturday, March 2 as co-main to the Puerto Rican GOAT, Amanda Serrano.
“I’m fighting for experience, not for the money, and to show my love for this beautiful island I’ll be donating my entire fight purse from this event to my nonprofit Boxing Bullies to help renovate gyms across Puerto Rico.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
