LEAGUES News
Jake Paul to fight pro boxer Ryan Bourland on March 2
Jake Paul's next boxing match is official.
The YouTube star turned prizefighter will meet pro boxer Ryan Bourland on March 2 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Paul's Most Valuable Promotions announced Tuesday.
Paul-Bourland, an eight-round cruiserweight bout, will serve as the co-main event to the title fight between unified women's featherweight champion Amanda Serrano and Nina Meinke. The event is being distributed by DAZN and will be available via subscription.
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. And just like the animal in his bone chilling nickname… he is also endangered😂😅
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) January 30, 2024
On Saturday, March… pic.twitter.com/CzhHTx9tsC
Bourland is 17-2 with six knockouts in his pro boxing career. The 35-year-old California native is a former Golden Gloves champion and National Junior Olympics boxer. However, he hasn't stepped into the ring since September 2022, when he defeated Santario Martin via TKO in North Dakota, and that was his first fight since October 2018. Bourland is riding a three-fight winning streak.
This will be Paul's second straight fight against someone with far more experience than him. The 27-year-old is coming off a first-round knockout win over pro boxer Andre August in December. Paul, who made his pro debut four years ago, is 8-1 with five knockouts.
"The Problem Child" suffered the first loss of his career, a split decision to Tommy Fury last February, but got back on track by defeating former UFC star Nate Diaz last summer and then August. Paul has also beaten the likes of former UFC champions Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley, but he is now focused on fighting other boxers with the hopes of eventually earning a world title shot.
Paul said he'll donate his entire fight purse to help renovate gyms in Puerto Rico.