HASIM RAHMAN JR has made a U-turn by backing KSI to beat Jake Paul having trained with BOTH YouTube stars.
Rahman, a former sparring partner of Paul’s, previously predicted the American would knock out KSI.
But after linking up with the British celebrity and training alongside him, his opinion has been drastically changed.
Rahman, 31, told iFL TV: “I thought KSI was terrible, I thought he was not very good.
“But I came out here and I’ve seen what he’s working on and how he’s working, man KSI’s work rate is severely underrated, severely underrated.
“And I think if he keeps working hard, by the time he gets to a Jake fight, I just think he wins.
“I think his engine is a lot better than the engine Jake has.Jake fights at a slow pace – I mean Jake’s fights put me to sleep – he’s incredibly boring.
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“On the contrary KSI, he fights at a fast pace, a high level, he’s always bringing it.
“He fights with more passion than what Jake fight with and I give him the edge to him.”
Rahman signed to fight Paul, 25, on late notice in August after Tommy Fury, 23, was pulled out of his grudge match due to a visa issue.
But a weight disagreement forced the bout to be axed with just a week to go, as Paul now prepares to fight UFC icon Anderson Silva, 47, next.
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Rahman has since signed with KSI’s manager Mams Taylor and returns on November 19 against ex-UFC champion Vitor Belfort, 45.
Meanwhile, KSI, 29, wants to fight Paul next year after he won TWICE in one night in August when making his boxing comeback.
And he will have the help of Rahman if he does get a deal over the line with his arch nemesis.
Rahman said: “If they fight, I’m going to be there 100 per cent of the way, giving him any pointers I can give him, letting him know anything I see. Just taking care of business.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
