JAKE PAUL’S fight with Hasim Rahman Jr was NOT cancelled due to poor ticket sales.
The YouTuber turned boxer pulled the plug on the Madison Square Garden melee last weekend over an alleged 11th-hour weight demand from Rahman Jr.
UFC president Dana White and boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, however, suggested Team Paul cancelled the fight due to poor ticket sales.
But an MSG source told SunSport “sales were strong heading into Fight Week” and the short-notice cancellation was “not based on ticket sales.”
Paul’s clash with Rahman Jr – the son of former heavyweight champ Hasim Sr – was reportedly on course to be one of the “top 10 of highest grossing boxing events” at The Garden in the last 15 years.
Although the event hadn’t completely sold, MSG were anticipating a deluge of tickets being bought during fight week.
READ MORE IN SPORT
Paul’s first clash with a professional boxer was supposedly nixed due to weight issues for Rahman Jr – who reportedly only lost a solitary pound after agreeing to take the 200lbs clash.
After learning of his weight issues, the New York State Athletic Commission refused to sanction the bout at under 205lbs.
Rahman Jr is said to have then revealed he would weigh in at 215lbs and would “pull out” of the fight if he was required to be any lighter.
An irate Paul fumed on social media: “Hasim Rahman Jr has pulled out of the fight.
PLAY DREAM TEAM NOW FOR FREE WITH £100k IN PRIZE MONEY
Most read in Boxing
“This is not a joke, I am devastated, I cannot f***ing believe this, we just found out this news.
“This is another case of a professional boxer, just like Tommy Fury, being scared to fight me.”
Paul, 25, is now reportedly targeting a showdown with former world champion kickboxer Andrew Tate – although The Problem Child has yet to publicly campaign for the fight.
Read More on The Sun
The YouTuber turned boxer hasn’t set foot inside the ring since his brutal demolition of former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley last December.
Paul flattened The Chosen One with a vicious overhand right to extend his record to a perfect 5-0.
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
