JAKE Paul laid a beating on replacement foe Mike Perry, eventually forcing a stoppage in the sixth session of their scheduled eight-round headliner at the Amalie Arena, Florida, last night.
‘Platinum’ Perry arrived with bareknuckle boxing experience but a pitiful pro ring resume. The 32-year-old Floridian’s only previous foray into the noble art resulted in a fourth-round Pensacola pounding at the fists of Kenneth ‘Bullet Hands’ McNeil (6-1) in 2015.
Bringing nothing more to the table than a hot temper, tattooed face and a history of violence, Perry arrived in Tampa as a keep-busy body for Paul to knock about on the July 20 date that was originally reserved for a Mike Tyson fight.
That bout was shelved when Tyson suffered a medical incident on a flight and was withdrawn due to health concerns. The veteran heavyweight has promised he will be in condition to fight Paul on their revised date of November 15 in the impressive AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas.
In last night’s main event, it quickly became apparent that Perry was no challenge for Paul, who circled the ring, throwing a strong left jab. Paul landed a shoving right hand in the opener that dropped Perry for a count. Appearing unperturbed by the fall, the muscular mover kept his hands low.
While Paul is no match for the better fighters on the scene, his skillset is clearly superior to the jobbers and jaunters dragged in for this kind of novelty affair. Perry was down again in round two from a similar overhand right. Damaged around the right eye, Perry, to his credit, was at least rumbling forward, trying to make a fight of it.
He had a good third round. Not that he won any of it (Paul dictated off the left jab), but at least he didn’t get knocked down. While the right hand was working well for the fight favourite, round four saw Perry ship his first portentous glancing left hook.
The same punch landed in the sixth and, as he waddled around the centre ring, it became apparent that Mike’s senses had been severely impacted. Spotting the jelly legs as quickly as anyone, Jake Paul jumped in for the kill. Clubbing swings from both hands sent Perry to the canvas. He made it to his feet and stared blankly at referee Christopher Young.
When Mr Young asked him to walk across the ring, Perry staggered like the patrons across the street in the bars of Tampa. Young correctly called his evening to a close. Jake Paul improved his record to 10-1 (7 KOs), while Perry is now 0-2.
