MMA

BOXER Hasim Rahman Jr has backed KSI to beat Jake Paul as their bitter grudge match edges closer. The pair of arch enemies are in talks to finally settle their score in the ring, with talks of a December blockbuster in the UK. 
KSI pictured with Hasim Rahman JrCredit: @hasimrahmanjr

Jake Paul and Hasim Rahman Jr sparred beforeCredit: https://twitter.com/_HasimRahmanJr/status/1314032111276290049
Rahman sparred Paul before the American’s second professional fight, which turned out to be a brutal KO of ex-NBA star Nate Robinson. 
But two years later, they actually signed to fight each only for the bout to be cancelled with a week to go amid a row over the weight. 
Rahman would go on to sign for KSI’s Misfits Boxing banner, while striking up a training partnership and friendship with the British celebrity. 
And having witnessed first-hand KSI’s famed work ethic, the American believes Paul will be no match. 
READ MORE IN boxing
Rahman told SunSport: “I think that JJ outworks Jake and drowns him. 
“I think that the deep waters that JJ would take Jake to, he just hasn’t been to before. 
“Jake’s workrate, even in his last fight, is nowhere near what it needs to be for JJ. 
“JJ is an incredible machine, that boy doesn’t stop and he’s only getting better.
Most read in Boxing
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
“I sparred Jake before he fought AnEsonGib and I’ve been watching his career up till the Anderson Silva fight. 
“I’ve been watching JJ since he fought Logan the first time and he took some time off and came back but the rate of improvement from JJ is much better than Jake’s. 
“That’s just my honest opinion.” 
Paul has now given Tommy Fury, 23, THREE chances to fight him, following two prior pullouts, amid injury and US visa issues. 
The second of which was when Rahman signed as a replacement for a 200lb cruiserweight fight. 
But the New York State Athletic Commission later changed it to 205lb, although still the two teams clashed, resulting in a fight collapse. 
Rahman still held a weigh in the day before the planned bout and came in slightly over the catchweight at 206.6lb. 
Like I told people from the beginning, Jake Paul doesn’t really want to fight me. He never wanted to fight me. Hasim Rahman Jr
But would refuse to reschedule – unlike with Fury – and chose to fight UFC legend Anderson Silva, 47, instead winning in October. 
Rahman said: “Like I told people from the beginning, Jake Paul doesn’t really want to fight me. He never wanted to fight me. 
“The world saw him weight 206.6lb – and that was in three weeks – imagine if he gave me the time to prepare like he’s given to Tommy or Anderson Silva. 
“He definitely had the opportunity to do that, even after our fight fell out. 
“Now he can’t go back and say, ‘Oh, I don’t want to give you another chance because the fight fell out the first time and we wasted money.’ 
“When they’ve been through this twice this Tommy and then turn around and give Tommy another fight. 
“I don’t think Tommy’s going to win, I think Jake will win but it still shows he already pretty much admitted a fight with me meant more and was tougher than with Tommy.
Read More on The Sun
“He’s still going to have to answer that question after this fight. But he’s going down in weight and I’m not going nowhere lower than 200. 
“That’s the absolute lowest I would go. But we’ll see about Jake, but Logan can get it, even though I don’t think Logan will be interested in fighting me.” 
Jake Paul and Hasim Rahman Jr before their fight cancelationCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

JAKE PAUL and Tommy Fury exploded into a row over previous opponents ahead of their bitter fight. The pair of celebrity boxing rivals look finally set to meet in the ring, following Fury’s two prior pullouts amid injury and US visa issues.
Jake Paul and Tommy Fury facing off in Saudi ArabiaCredit: Getty
And the bad blood carried over to the pre-fight press conference as they two put down each other’s boxing records.
Paul, 26, said: “He can’t knock out the taxi drivers he’s been put in there with, who have a combined record of 20 wins and 250 losses.
“And when I say that stat, my friend came up to me like, ‘Yo, I thought you was joking when you said that stat.’
“That’s an actual stat, his opponents have a combined record of 20 wins and 250 losses.
READ MORE IN boxing
“And the records of the opponents now is like 30 wins and 350 losses. So he’s never been put in there with someone who wasn’t put in there to lose.
“So on Sunday, when he’s in the locker room warming up he’s gonna be thinking, ‘Damn, everyone has been put in there to lose, the Warrens put me in there with scrubs and now I have a real fight, eight rounds.’
“He’s never been eight rounds, he’s going to be put in the deep waters and drowned and I promise that.”
Fury, who has never gone past six rounds, will be Paul’s first opponent with a recognised boxing record on Sunday in Saudi Arabia.
Most read in Boxing

🥊 How to watch Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury: Date, UK start time, live stream, TV channel
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS

That is despite wins over ex-MMA champions Ben Askren, 38, Tyron Woodley, 40, and UFC legend Anderson Silva, 47.
But Fury, 23, responded: “Tyron Woodley was 40-years-old, Anderson Silva was nearly 50, not too far off my dad’s age and he got took the full distance.
“Everybody knows in this building who knows about boxing, MMA fighters are not boxers, we all know that.
“I’ve absolutely took apart every single MMA fighter I’ve ever sparred with in my entire life.
“They’re not boxers, and this guy couldn’t even deal with them. Let alone, ‘This guy is a great striker.’ Yeah, in MMA, not boxing.
“And you still went eight rounds with him and looked like you went through the trenches.
“On Sunday night, you’ve got a fresh, young, 23-year-old, proper legitimate fighter who will have it inside or outside the ring.
“I’m not for lights, camera, action, this is in my heart, blood and sole and you’re going to feel that.
Read More on The Sun
“Let me tell you now, I’m not a 50-year-old man and when you’re in the opposite corner, and you’re getting hit all about the head, blue flashes, you’re going to wake up and realise what boxing is.
“It’s not to fight old men, you’ve got a proper, proper fight in here who is coming to take your head off.”
Jake Paul and Tommy Fury pose with the WBC Diriyah beltCredit: Getty More

JAKE PAUL has set a timeframe for his MMA debut – after secretly training for it ahead of his fight with Tommy Fury. Paul finally faces Tommy Fury – who has twice pulled out before due to injury and US visa issues – on Sunday in Saudi Arabia.
Jake Paul pictured training in MMACredit: @jakepaul
It comes just over a month after the YouTuber-turned boxer signed a deal with the UFC’s rivals, The Professional Fighters League.
Paul, 26, will help spearhead the PFL’s new “super-fight” division, which will also host his debut in the cage in 2024.
And the former high-school wrestler has been working on his MMA skills while preparing to fight Fury, 23.
Paul said on The MMA Hour: “After this fight I’m going to get back into the MMA training.
READ MORE IN boxing
“We’ve been working on the jiu jitsu. It’s coming really naturally and first though.
“I was a wrestler, so like a lot of my movements are just like snapping right back to me when I was doing jiu jitsu/wrestling training.
“And I have the boxing, so it’s really just getting the kicks and being able to defend the kicks, which is going to be interesting.
“But I like to push myself, that’s what life’s about, is living outside your comfort zone, the best people will tell you that.
Most read in Boxing

🥊 How to watch Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury: Date, UK start time, live stream, TV channel
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST NEW CUSTOMER SIGN UP DEALS

“I just wanna do MMA. I think I can be really good at it.”
Paul’s fight with Fury will mark the first time he has faced a recognised professional boxer, despite wins over ex-MMA champions.
He already has Ben Askren, 38, Tyron Woodley, 40, and UFC great Anderson Silva, 47, on his winning resume in the ring.
But the American is ready to try and add one more legendary UFC name onto his record in Nate Diaz.
Paul said: “I think they’re ready. I’m getting through Sunday and we’re going to line that one up, ASAP.
“Yeah, I think that’s next. I think that’s what the fans want, and that’s who I want.
“There’s been a lot of talk back and forth, we’ve said our stuff, but it’s time to get down to business.”
Paul he has even offered 37-year-old Diaz a two-fight deal, in both the ring and cage.
Read More on The Sun
He said: “I want to do the one fight boxing, one fight MMA, but I’m not sure if Nate’s team is fully aligned on that yet or I don’t know if they realise how serious I am about that.
“I think they thought I was just doing it for hype, but I’m dead ass.”
Jake Paul facing off with Tommy FuryCredit: Getty
Nate Diaz is a free agent after leaving the UFCCredit: GETTY More

JAKE PAUL hit his sparring partner Kalvin Henderson so hard he immediately ruled out any allegations of fight fixing. The YouTuber-turned boxer has been forced to deny baseless accusations that his wins over Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley and Anderson Silva were rigged. 
Jake Paul knocked out Tyron Woodley in their rematchCredit: AP
Kalvin Henderson pictured in training with Jake Paul
But Henderson – who has been in camp with Paul for his upcoming fight with Tommy Fury – is able to put those theories to bed. 
He told SunSport: “He hit me with a right hand and I instantly knew that the fight he had with Tyron Woodley when he knocked him unconscious wasn’t fixed at all. 
“That was a real shot, he caught me with a shot and of course, I’m a seasoned professional boxer I wasn’t dazed or got dropped or anything, but I didn’t want to get hit with that shot anymore. 
“I had to make adjustments to make sure I didn’t get hit with it anymore. When he caught me I felt the pop on him.” 
READ MORE IN boxing
Paul knocked out Askren, 38, and Woodley, 40, but was taken the distance by UFC legend Silva, 47, last October. 
But he faces his first opponent with a recognised pro boxing record on Sunday in Saudi Arabia, against Fury, 23. 
Henderson, 32, was approached by Paul’s coach BJ Flores via Instagram to help prepare for the celebrity grudge match. 
And after three weeks in camp with the American in Dubai – just 400 miles away from the scene of fight night – he was full of praise. 
Most read in Boxing
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS

Henderson said: “What really shocked me the most was he’s really locked in, man.
“He’s not doing this for no gimmick, for no jokes or content or likes or shares. 
“He’s really a boxer, he trains like I would for a fight. He goes to the gym and doesn’t play around, does his recovery and he goes home. 
“He doesn’t hang around the gym and crack jokes, he goes and puts in work.” 
Super-middleweight contender Henderson admitted it took a few rounds to come to terms with Paul’s uncoventional style. 
He revealed: “Jake’s a little unorthodox, a little quirky in his movement.
“It’s not like a traditional boxer where you know where the shots are coming from. 
“His timing is a little weird too, he’ll be moving one second and then he’ll throw a right hand or a left hand the next second. 
“It kind of takes a little time to adjust to it. He has good pop for his size.” 

🥊 How to watch Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury: Date, UK start time, live stream, TV channel
Paul, in just three years of professional prizefighting, is already one of the richest stars in the sport. 
In 2021, he was behind only Canelo Alvarez, 32, and Tyson Fury, 34, in the list of highest-paid boxers. 
His pay-per-view appeal has afforded him fortune in the ring, but away from the on-screen bravado, Paul is a welcoming character. 
Henderson said: “When Jake’s on camera, he’s one way, kinda like an actor in a movie. But when you’re talking to him, he’s very cool, down to earth. 
“I was sharing some insight from one of our sparring sessions, what I was impressed on and it was cool to hear how intellectual Jake is and how his mind works on boxing. 
“He was locked in. He’s a cool guy, man. No issues at all.” 
Paul is finally set to fight Fury, who has twice pulled out in the past amid injury and US visa issues. 
And Henderson has backed his training partner to win, in a warning to Britain’s Fury. 
Read More on The Sun
He said: “If Tommy comes in and what to press and engage, he might get caught early and go to sleep. 
“It really depends on what Tommy shows up that night. But I know Jake is going to come ready.
Don’t miss the True Test on Sunday as Jake Paul takes on Tommy Fury, exclusively on talkSPORT for FREE. Download the app.
Jake Paul facing off with Tommy FuryCredit: Reuters More

JAKE PAUL has already lined up his NEXT fight – just days before finally facing Tommy Fury. The celebrity boxing rivals are at last set to meet in the ring on Sunday, after Fury, 23, twice pulled out before amid injury and US visa issues.
Jake Paul facing off with Tommy FuryCredit: Reuters
And it will mark the first time Paul has fought a recognised professional boxer, despite wins over ex-MMA champions.
But the YouTuber-turned prizefighter is ready to try and add one more legendary UFC name onto his winning record.
Paul revealed Nate Diaz – who left the UFC last year – is the early frontrunner to be his next opponent.
He said on The MMA Hour: “I think they’re ready. I’m getting through Sunday and we’re going to line that one up, ASAP.
READ MORE IN BOXING
“Yeah, I think that’s next. I think that’s what the fans want, and that’s who I want.
“There’s been a lot of talk back and forth, we’ve said our stuff, but it’s time to get down to business.”
Paul, 26, added that summer is the target date for a fight with Diaz, 37.
He already has Ben Askren, 38, Tyron Woodley, 40, and UFC great Anderson Silva, 47, on his winning resume in the ring.
Most read in Boxing

🥊 How to watch Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury: Date, UK start time, live stream, TV channel
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
But the American this year signed a deal with the UFC’s rivals, The Professional Fighters League.
Paul will help promoter a new “super-fight” division which also promises to host his debut in MMA.
And he has offered Diaz a two-fight deal, in both the ring and cage.
Paul said: “I want to do the one fight boxing, one fight MMA, but I’m not sure if Nate’s team is fully aligned on that yet or I don’t know if they realise how serious I am about that.
“I think they thought I was just doing it for hype, but I’m dead ass.”
Nate Diaz is a free agent after leaving the UFCCredit: Getty
Don’t miss the True Test on Sunday as Jake Paul takes on Tommy Fury, exclusively on talkSPORT for FREE. Download the app. More

HASIM RAHMAN JR claimed Jake Paul dodged a bullet and saved his boxing career after their cancelled fight. Paul on Sunday faces Tommy Fury, who was forced to pull out in December 2021 due to injury and again last August amid US visa issues. 
Jake Paul and Hasim Rahman Jr before their cancelled fightCredit: GETTY
On the second occasion, heavyweight Rahman signed as a late replacement but was forced to come down TWO STONE to 200lb. 
The New York State Athletic Commission later changed the bout to 205lb, but even then the two sides disagreed. 
Eventually, the fight was scrapped with Rahman, 31, going on to sign for KSI’s Misfits Boxing banner after the ordeal. 
He did hold an unoffical weigh in the day before the proposed bout to prove he could make the catchweight limit – but hit the scales at 206.6lb. 
READ MORE IN BOXING
Meanwhile Paul, 26, instead returned last October to beat UFC legend Anderson Silva, 47, living to fight another day in Rahman’s eyes.
He told SunSport: “He dodged a bullet, even when we were going to 205. That extra 5lb was literally all I needed. 
“Had it actually been fight week, who knows? Maybe I would have actually made 205. I made 206 and weighed in like an hour early. 
“Jake Paul’s team knew what they were doing, they knew not to give me any time to get ready, they wouldn’t put him in that position. 
Most read in Boxing
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS

🥊 How to watch Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury: Date, UK start time, live stream, TV channel
“They all were telling him he was making a mistake by fighting me in the first place.” 
After Rahman’s cancellation, Fury, 23, becomes the first opponent with a recognised boxing record Paul will face. 
He has instead recorded wins over ex-MMA champions in Ben Askren, 38, Tyron Woodley, 40, and Silva. 
Paul twice beat ex-UFC welterweight champ Woodley, on points in August 2021 and then by KO in their rematch as Fury withdrew injured. 
The American was taken the eight rounds – even punched through the ropes and threatened to retire – which later emerged as a joke. 
But Rahman insisted the damage he was set to do on Paul would have been no laughing matter. 
He said: “I don’t like Jake, I don’t like him. I think he would’ve retired from boxing, he wouldn’t have been able to go back to creator boxing. 
“I think I would have hurt that man so bad, he would have been like, ‘I don’t think I want to do this anymore.’
I don’t like Jake, I don’t like him. I think he would’ve retired from boxing, he wouldn’t have been able to go back to creator boxing. Hasim Rahman Jr on Jake Paul
“He had that aura about him after he fought Tyron Woodley the first time, he didn’t seem too sure on whether he wanted to keep doing this. 
“I can guarantee you he would’ve been in five-ten times more pain and had to go through five-ten times as much with me than he did with Tyron Woodley.” 
Paul is set to move down to a career-lowest 185lb against Fury, having largely boxed at 190lb.
Meanwhile Rahman was 226lb for his last fight, a loss to ex-NFL star and now heavyweight fighter, who weighed over SEVEN STONE more. 
The weight disparity means the pair are not likely to ever cross paths and despite the bad blood, Rahman still backed Paul to beat Fury. 
Read More on The Sun
He said: “I think Jake wins a decision. I’m not sold on Jake’s power. 
“I don’t know much about Tommy but I’ve seen him box in spots and I definitely think Jake’s gonna win a decision.” 
Don’t miss the True Test on Sunday as Jake Paul takes on Tommy Fury, exclusively on talkSPORT for FREE. Download the app.
Jake Paul and Tommy Fury ahead of their fightCredit: Getty More