Eddie Hearn: Mike Perry Must Neutralize Jake Paul Completely to Defeat Him in a Boxing Match
Eddie Hearn has seen plenty in his career as a boxing promoter, and he thinks he has a pretty good idea of what’s going to happen Saturday.
Matchroom Boxing chairman Hearn said he thinks the only chance Mike Perry has to beat Jake Paul in their boxing match is outside the obvious ruleset.
“(Perry’s only chance is to) break his legs,” Hearn told DAZN, which is delivering the card on pay-per-view from Tampa, Fla. “Mike Perry is a welterweight that I think was in the UFC at middleweight, and the fight is at 200 pounds. He has absolutely no chance. And by the way, Mike Perry, I’m sure, is a really tough guy, and at 160-170 pounds, he’s probably a right handful. But you can’t give 30 pounds away.
“Jake’s not great, but he’s a big lump, and he’s strong and he can punch a little bit, as well. I think he’ll stop Mike Perry.”
Paul was supposed to fight former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson next until Tyson had to postpone with an an ulcer flareup. Instead, Paul booked an admittedly risky fight with Perry to stay busy until Tyson is ready.
The Tyson fight was rebooked for Nov. 15 live on Netflix from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. But Hearn already thinks the Tyson fight will fall apart, anyway.
“The Jake Paul machine works when he’s in a big fight,” Hearn said. “There’s some interest in Mike Perry, and if the Mike Tyson fight does happen – which I don’t think it will – I’m sure that will do big numbers.
“But he needs a dance partner. He’s stuck between a boxer and an influencer. The influencer fights are going to make him more money. He wants the credibility for boxing, but he’s not actually willing to take a proper fight in boxing. A part of him wants to establish himself and get the credibility as a boxer, but he can’t fight anyone too good because he’ll get beat.”
