Jake Paul to face Hasim Rahman Jr. after Tommy Fury debacle

New York, New York - YouTube star Jake Paul will fight Hasim Rahman Jr. at his Madison Square Garden boxing match next month, after Tommy Fury withdrew.

Jake Paul will take on a new opponent at his highly-anticipated return to the ring on August 6.
Jake Paul will take on a new opponent at his highly-anticipated return to the ring on August 6.  © Mike Ehrmann / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

Following the withdrawal of professional British boxer Tommy Fury, Jake Paul now has a new opponent for his highly-anticipated return to the boxing ring next month.

Fury was recently denied entry into the US, reportedly due to his family’s alleged ties with crime boss Daniel Kinahan, who is wanted by the US government.

Hasim Rahman Jr., son of the former boxing heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman Sr., will now replace Fury and fight Paul on August 6 in New York, Paul confirmed in an announcement on Thursday.

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Rahman, a 12-1 professional boxer with six knockouts, will battle Paul in an eight-round match that will be contested at 200 pounds and broadcasted on Showtime PPV.

Jake Paul's new opponent will be his biggest test yet

Rahman will be the toughest test of Paul's young boxing career by a wide margin. Rahman is the first traditional boxer Paul will fight against, as his first five professional boxing matches have come against fighters with no background in boxing.

However, Paul is looking to shed the label of being merely a social media celebrity impersonating a professional boxer, and to be taken more serious as he embarks on his new fighting career.

"The New York state athletic commission didn’t want to approve this fight because they said Hasim had too much experience for me," Paul said in an Instagram post. "It don’t matter to me, I’m the fighting flea, they can’t hit me … I’m slippery like butter and with speed like no other. My power is unique and my style is sleek. I’ve made the toughest men weak."

The Paul vs. Rahman fight press conference and the start of ticket sales is slated for July 12 at 1 PM EST.

Cover photo: Mike Ehrmann / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

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