Boxing

JAKE PAUL scored his biggest win as a professional boxer by beating Tyron Woodley – but had to overcome a scare or two. The YouTuber-turned prizefighter boxed his way to a points win over eight-rounds against Woodley, who was UFC champion only three years ago.
Jake Paul beat Tyron Woodley on pointsCredit: Amanda Westcott/
The YouTuber won the fight by a split-decisionCredit: Getty
Jake Paul was taken the full eight roundsCredit: Getty
At times the cruiserweight attraction lacked intensity and quality, but was gripping throughout.
Paul, criticised for not facing stern enough competition, showed off a smart range finding jab, distance control and composure over the distance.
But Woodley was guilty of letting the fight slip away round by round, not showing enough urgency.
After the fight went all the way, the judges scored it a split-decision, with Paul declared the winner in his home of Cleveland, Ohio.
He said: “I don’t know what to say – he was a tough opponent and he’s been fighting for so many years and I’m still new to this.
“My legs felt weird, I wasn’t sure what was wrong with me. All respect to Tyron though.

He’s a Hall of Famer and put up a good fight. I have nothing but respect for him. There’s no hard feelings.
“This feels amazing to do this for my city and it’s a dream come true.”
The opening bell saw Woodley, 39, rush out the corner and lunge in with a big overhand right, which was easily telegraphed.
Paul, 24, implemented feints early on and utilised a smart jab, even landing a three-punch combination to cap off a cagey opener.
In the second, the social media sensation boxed largely on the back foot behind a jab, with Woodley threatening, but not attacking.
Jake Paul moved to 4-0 in his careerCredit: Getty
Tyron Woodley lacked urgency throughout the fightCredit: Getty
The ex-UFC welterweight’s reluctance to let his hands go saw Paul take control, also landing a combo to head and body before the bell sounded.
Woodley did find home with a big right hand to open the third round, which prompted three punches coming back his way.
Paul then scored with a right uppercut, the most eye-catching shot of the fight up until that point.
Heading into the fourth and a pattern was starting to build until Woodley rocked Paul and sprung the fight into life.
A big right hand over the top, and a left hook had the celebrity former vlogger hurt for the first time in his boxing career and sent into the ropes.
Jake Paul had to overcome scares during the fightCredit: Getty
Tyron Woodley lost his boxing debutCredit: Getty
Woodley decided to then gesture to the crowd as Paul managed to see out the round and overcome adversity in the ring for the first time.
The fifth round picked up where the last left off, as Woodley landed a right uppercut, followed by a rear hand down the middle.
Paul ended the round punching back but it was clear the tide was threatening to turn.
Both fighters looked to be slowing down by the sixth, prompting Paul to let his hands go but nothing landed.
He was still feeling it by round seven but managed to control the distance with a smart jab while Woodley postured and feinted but did not throw.
Tyron Woodley knocked Jake Paul into the ropesCredit: Getty
Tyron Woodley failed to KO Jake PaulCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Paul finished the round with a right hand over the top to assert himself on top once more.
And he did a good job in seeing out the final round by circling around the ring and staying out of distance to take the fight to the cards.
After a split-decision was announced, both men were mythed, with Woodley aggressively calling for a rematch.
He said: “I feel like I won the fight. Jake is a great opponent. I didn’t expect him to eat my punches like that.
“But the fact that one judge only gave me two rounds is insane. Forget that Tommy Fury fight. Let’s run that back.
Jake Paul after the eight round distanceCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley confront each other after the fightCredit: Getty
Jake Paul celebrates his winCredit: Getty Images – Getty
“Nobody is going to sell the pay-per-view like we did. The ropes held him up when I hit him. I could have had that knockdown.
“I walked him down and landed back time and time again. I landed power punches, he missed shots all night.”
Both fighters made a bet that the loser would have to get the winner’s name tattooed on them afterwards.
And Paul, who moved to 4-0, insisted if Woodley went through with it, a rematch was his.
He replied: “Get the tattoo and we’ll run it back. We got the tattoo artist right here, so you ain’t going nowhere.
“Wipe the sweat off and shave that leg, because I’m fucking putting I love Jake Paul on your leg and we can run it back.”
Tommy Fury and Jake Paul clash behind the scenes after the Tyron Woodley fight More

JAKE PAUL showed off his ELECTRONIC shorts while Dustin Poirier visited the YouTuber backstage before his fight with Tyron Woodley. Paul faces ex-UFC champion Woodley in his home of Cleveland, Ohoi, and paid homage to his boyhood NFL side.
Jake Paul showed off his electronic shorts
Dustin Poirier visited the YouTuber Jake Paul backstage
The social media sensation wore orange and brown shorts representing American football team Cleveland Browns.
But what quite literally caught everyones eyes was the electronics on the belt line of his shorts, which just read Paul in led lights.
The American, who is 3-0 all by knockout, was earlier in the night visited by UFC lightweight Poirier.
MMA fans vented their frustration, believing the former interim champion had pledged his allegiance to Paul.
But in reality, he also visited Woodley, 39, with the pair formerly sharing the same American Top Team gym.
Poirier, 32, tweeted: “I went tell both guys good luck.”

Paul, 24, comes into the fight unbeaten but has so far faced only limited opposition.
That includes online rival ‘AnEsonGib’, ex-NBA star Nate Robinson, 37, and retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 37.
His return against Woodley will provide the biggest challenge in Paul’s boxing career to date.
Nevertheless, the social media sensation has predicted a sensational first-round KO.
Paul told Sky Sports: “Honestly after this camp, I said three [rounds] and now I’m thinking, max two.
“But to be honest, something in my heart tells me that it’s going to be another one round fight.
“As crazy as that sounds. I think it’s going to be a very short night for Tyron.”
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Jake Paul vs Tyron Woodley – Round by Round More

TOMMY FURY told Jake Paul there is ‘no hiding’ from their all-celebrity fight as he called out his online rival. Fury made his US debut on Paul’s undercard against the YouTuber’s sparring partner Anthony Taylor.
Tommy Fury beat Anthony Taylor on pointsCredit: @ShowtimeBoxing
Jake Paul was called out by Tommy FuryCredit: @ShowtimeBoxing
And Taylor, a 7-5 MMA fighter with only one prior boxing bout which he lost, did not provide any real test.
Fury won all four rounds convincingly but was unable to get the knockout thanks to the holding and unorthodox style of his American opponent.
Still the British light-heavyweight moved to 7-0 and used the uneventful display to entice and convince Paul into a grudge match.
Fury said: “Looking at that, Jake Paul, you should have an easy night mate, shouldn’t you?
“There’s no excuses now. You’ve seen everybody, I’ve had the biggest cheer in the place.
“There’s no excuses, no running, no hiding. I want you next, you bum. Let’s get it on.”

Fury, 22, already signed a two-fight deal with US powerhouse Showtime before he made his Stateside debut.
The network also have Paul recently tied down to a lucrative deal and talk of a fight between them in their next fights had already taken place.
But Paul, 24, first needed to beat ex-UFC champion Tyron Woodley, 39, in his fourth and toughest pro bout to date, which headlined the evening.
Fury, without his father John or older brother Tyson, admitted to underperforming but promised to carry on improving.

He said: “It wasn’t my best performance and everyone will know that.
“But at the end of the day, boxing is the toughest game in the world. If it was easy, everybody in the world would be doing it.
“I’m learning day by day, each session that I have in the gym. I’m getting better. It’s the hardest game in the world and I’m trying my hardest.
“That’s all that I can say.”
Paul later beat Woodley by split decision and hinted afterwards that he will take a rematch before facing Fury.
Paul later won over eight-rounds, but Woodley argued he deserved the win and demanded a rematch.
And he was told it was his – so long as he stayed true to his word and had ‘I love Jake Paul’ inked on him.
Paul said: “If you get the tattoo, I love Jake Paul, let’s run it back,”
Woodley, 39, replied: “Bet. Let’s go.”
Paul added: “Get the tattoo and we’ll run it back. We got the tattoo artist right here, so you ain’t going nowhere.
“Wipe the sweat off and shave that leg, because I’m fucking putting I love Jake Paul on your leg and we can run it back.”
Jake Paul vs Tyron Woodley – Round by Round More