Boxing 2021: Jeff Fenech says Jake Paul won’t be talking ‘bulls---’ against former UFC champ Tyron Woodley
Australian boxing legend Jeff Fenech is tipping a spectacular KO for the upcoming bout of US Youtuber Jake Paul, claiming one opponent steps into the ring with the wrong credentials.
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Jeff Fench has backed polarising American Jake Paul to win his latest boxing showdown via knockout, warning: “When you get through all the bulls---, this kid can fight”.
A hyped Youtuber-turned-prize-fighter, Paul is taking his travelling circus, and undefeated record, up a notch on Monday when he faces former UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley in Cleveland, Ohio.
The hyped bout, which will be shown live on Main Event, looms as the biggest test so far for the 24-year-old who initially rose to fame as a Disney actor and internet star.
While plenty of heavyweight voices in the fight game have condemned Paul and older brother Logan — who most recently, fought an exhibition bout against Floyd Mayweather — for making a mockery of the sport, Fenech has jumped to the duo’s defence.
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In fact, the Australian Hall of Famer is tipping Paul — a $1.45 TAB favourite — to not simply defeat Woodley, but knock out the rival who has even agreed to get a tattoo of the social media star if he loses.
“When you get through all the bulls---, Jake Paul can fight,” Fenech said. “I’ve watched both him and his brother — you can’t help but watch them — and I definitely think Jake beats Tyron Woodley.
“So people can say the Paul brothers boxing is good, bad, whatever.
“But I can tell you Jake Paul is going to have a lot of eyeballs on him again for this fight. He’s out there making money and, especially in this climate, good luck to him.
“(Laughs) It’s a bit like when I was growing up as a kid, if there was a fight after school everyone was down there to watch because people do love watching fights.
“And today, with Paul talking the s--- that he does, people are watching.”
Pushed on the Youtuber’s credentials, Fenech continued of the fighter with the 3-0 record: “I know there’s a lot of people watch these fights going ‘oh, I could be Jake Paul. I could beat his brother’.
“But these guys can actually fight a bit. And they don’t seem to be frightened of anyone, either.”
Importantly, Fenech says Paul, who last outing kayoed another former UFC fighter in Ben Askren, is also hand-picking his opponents well.
The Marrickville Mauler said that while Woodley may have won a UFC welterweight title, he was not impressed with the striking credentials, especially now, aged 39, of a fighter whose greatest strength was his wrestling.
“I’ve watched Tyrone Woodley hit pads and he couldn’t bust a grape,” Fenech said. “He doesn’t even really know how to punch.
“So Jake, he isn’t silly. He has picked his opponent here.
“And some of these UFC guys, as we’ve seen, they don’t have much when they come across to the boxing ring.
“So I think he knocks Tyron Woodley out.”
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Paul not only addressed the media shirtless, but suggested he was already looking past Woodley to bigger names.
The fighter also addressed his critics saying: “Jealousy is one of the biggest evils in this world.
“And I think there are a lot of people who are jealous, who don’t think I deserve to be in this spot, that wish they could be here.
“And I’m polarising. I get it.
“I’m loud, I do stupid s---, I go to press conferences with my shirt off because I don’t give a f--- what people think.
“And most people aren’t like that. They are scared to rub people the wrong way.
“I don’t give a s---.
“The haters don’t sign my pay cheque. I do.
“So, you know, that’s why people don’t like me. They want to see me lose.
“They think this is a circus, they don’t think this is good for boxing.
“Well, guess what? It is.
“I’m here to stay. I’m going to knock out this f------ ing guy and move on to the next one.
“I am overlooking Tyron Woodley.
“Most people sit up here and … ‘oh, I have a tough opponent’. No.
“When I know what’s going to happen, when I’m confident in my skill, I’m already thinking about my next opponent.”
Originally published as Boxing 2021: Jeff Fenech says Jake Paul won’t be talking ‘bulls---’ against former UFC champ Tyron Woodley
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