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JAKE PAUL’S next opponent was forced into a major career change before making a boxing comeback for the fight of his life. The YouTuber-turned boxer returns on March 2 on the undercard of Amanda Serrano’s Puerto Rico homecoming.
Ryan Bourland is the boxer who is set to face Jake Paul nextCredit: Facebook
He turned to working on the oil rigs after briefly retiring from boxingCredit: Facebook
And he will do so against his most experienced opponent yet in Ryan Bourland, who holds a record of 17-2.
Bourland is a former amateur champion but in 2018 he hung up his gloves and worked on the oil rigs.
He said: “Boxing is not easy.
“Taking punches isn’t the most fun thing to do, and I’ve been doing it for a long time, but I’m not making that much money.
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“I haven’t had health insurance for a while.”
On working on the oil rigs, Bourland said: “It’s dangerous and hard work, but boxing is dangerous and is really hard work.
“After they saw my resume, I got a couple of calls, and they told me ‘You are exactly what we are looking for.’
“My dad told me, ‘You’re crazy. You know how cold it is up there?’
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“So I went out and bought a bunch of thermals and stuff like that, so hopefully I will be prepared.
“I got a call about fighting for a belt in Las Vegas, but it’s only for about $10,000.
New footage appears to show moment Tyson Fury was cut by an ELBOW causing Oleksandr Usyk fight to be scrapped
“By the time I pay my team and train for two months, it’s not that much.”
Bourland did make a return in 2022 and defeated Santario Martin, his third win on the spin.
Paul, 27, meanwhile suffered his first defeat last year, losing a split-decision to Tommy Fury, 24, in Saudi Arabia.
He bounced back six months later to beat ex-UFC star Nate Diaz, 38, on points over ten rounds.
But in his next fight, Paul announced plans to take a more traditional boxing approach to face more seasoned but less-known opposition.
That started in December when he took on 10-1-1 boxer Andre August, 35, who he knocked out in the first round.
Now Bourland, 35, will be the next man in line to face Paul, who has been insistent on one day challenging for a world title.
Jake Paul knocked out Andre August in his last fightCredit: Getty More

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.
Jake Paul returns on March 2 in Puerto RicoCredit: Getty

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.” More

KSI claims he’s suffered with toothache for NINE YEARS – but fans are convinced he’s actually trolling Tommy Fury. The YouTube, music and boxing star was beaten for the first time in October, losing a controversial decision to Fury.
Fans were convinced KSI was trolling Tommy FuryCredit: Instagram @KSI
Tommy Fury underwent surgery to fix a hand injuryCredit: Instagram @tommyfury
Fury this month revealed he had undergone hand surgery for an injury that has hampered him since 2019.
And he claimed it disrupted his training to fight KSI.
Many believe this is what lies behind KSI’s own ‘injury reveal’.
KSI, 30, posted online: “Since 2015 I have been dealing with a toothache that I’ve never spoken about/shared online.
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“Since my first professional fight I have been trying to manage this injury, training and fighting through extreme pain which led me to often not being able to box at all.
“For the last four weeks of my last camp I was only able to do jumping jacks until fight night.
“This morning I underwent surgery I’ve been putting off for years as I know this is the only way my tooth will heal and that I can move forward with my boxing career.
“I’m excited for my recovery journey and so ready to be back feeling 100% in 2024.”
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Fury, 24, posted a similar message accompanied with a picture from a hospital bed onto his Instagram page just five days earlier.
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He wrote: “Since 2019 I have been dealing with a hand injury that I’ve never spoken about/shared online.
“Since my third professional fight I have been trying to manage this injury, training and fighting through extreme pain which led me to often not being able to use my right hand at all.
“For the last four weeks of my last camp I trained solely with my left hand until fight night.
“This morning I underwent the surgery I’ve been putting off for years as I know this is the only way my hand will heal and that I can move forward with my boxing career.
“I’m excited for my recovery journey and so ready to be back feeling and giving 100% in 2024.”
The almost identical message had fans adamant KSI was mocking Fury.
One wrote: “The trolling is crazy.”
Another added: “Dig at Tommy.”
But one argued: “This would be a funnier troll if he had beaten Tommy but now he just looks like a sore loser no matter what he does.”
Fury, who also beat Jake Paul in 2023, has started his recovery by training with one hand and the other in a cast.
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KSI meanwhile revealed he will fight again in 2024 after taking time out and vacating his cruiserweight Misfits Boxing title.
Tommy Fury beat KSI on pointsCredit: Splash More

JAKE PAUL released details on his next fight – revealing it will be against an ex-junior Olympian with more knockouts than his last opponent. In December, the YouTuber-turned boxer knocked out Andre August, who came into the bout with a 10-1-1 record and five KOs.
Jake Paul returns on March 2Credit: Reuters

Paul returns on March 2 on the undercard of Amanda Serrano’s Puerto Rico homecoming.
And his Most Valuable Promotions banner teased details on the calibre of opponent he is set to fight.
They posted: “Almost time. This Tuesday. Jake Paul announces his next opponent.
“More wins than any previous opponent. More KOs than any previous opponent. Golden Gloves Champion. National Junior Olympics.”
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Paul, 27, suffered defeat for the first time last February, losing a split-decision to Tommy Fury, 24.
But he bounced back with a point victory over ex-UFC star Nate Diaz, 38, and first-round KO of August, 35.
The American held a press conference to announce his return but his opponent was not present.
But Paul revealed: “He’s a professional boxer with an even better record that Andre August and there will be an announcement coming soon.
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“But again, it’s another step up in competition, he’s won regional titles etc.
“Announcement will be coming soon but another step up in competition and continuing to challenge myself March 2nd.”
Paul’s business partner Nakisa Bidarian also revealed another bout is being eyed for June or July.
Jake Paul will return in Puerto RicoCredit: Rex More

JOHN FURY warned KSI must APOLOGISE in order for him to consider a rematch with his son Tommy – amid fight talks with Jake Paul. Last year Tommy beat the pair of YouTubers-turned boxers.
John Fury with his son TommyCredit: Reuters
KSI suffered defeat to Tommy FuryCredit: Getty
He first edged past Paul via split-decision last February in Saudi Arabia before moving onto a mega-fight with KSI.
But the build-up was marred in bitterness and KSI even spat gum at John during an open workout.
Son Tommy went onto win a controversial six-round decision but still tension remains between the two camps.
John told the Daily Mail, via Free Bets: “We’re not interested in KSI. Not for a trillion dollars.
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“Unless he comes up with an apology and decides to be a man, we want no part of it.
“He lost to Tommy on his own show. I know he’s aged about 10 or 15 years because of it. People like him, their egos are so big they just can’t move on from it.
“That will be his downfall. He needs to look in the mirror and take some lessons off real men on how to be one. You can’t disrespect people think you’re it.
“At the end of the day, up until the spitting job, up until the BS, he was doing a great job. Him and Logan Paul.
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“But, at the end of the day, Pauls are a different class to him. They’re not spitting at people. They are having verbal disagreements. That’s all part of the game.
“Spitting at people is a reptiles job. That’s something the scum of the earth does.
“I am no posh person, I am probably one step off the bottom but I don’t spit at people. I don’t disrespect people in that way.
“It becomes hatred and no one can do their job properly then.”
KSI, 30, announced he would take time out from boxing following his first loss but has since revealed he will fight again this year.
Meanwhile Fury, 24, has undergone hand surgery for an injury in which he said has hampered him for four years.
Paul, 27, bounced back from his defeat with two wins and returns on March 2 on the undercard of Amanda Serrano’s Puerto Rico homecoming.
But he revealed talks with the Fury family are back underway.
And John added: “We spoke to them about six weeks ago and we’ve not heard anything since.
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“I’m not sure what is going on behind the scenes. But, the buck stops with me. Right here.
“People can say what they want and do what they want, but the bottom line is that it has to go through me and Tommy.”
Tommy Fury and Jake Paul have held talks to rematchCredit: Getty More