NEW YORK – Hasim Rahman Jr. took particular exception Tuesday to Jake Paul’s promise to beat him up when they square off August 6 at Madison Square Garden.
Rahman questioned the caliber of opponents Paul has beaten in the content creator’s five professional boxing matches. The 31-year-old son of a former heavyweight champion will be the first professional boxer his antagonist has fought, which Rahman promised will lead to the polarizing Paul’s downfall in their eight-round cruiserweight fight.
“Who have you ever beat up?,” Rahman asked Paul during their press conference at Madison Square Garden. “Who have you ever beat up? You ain’t beat up nobody! You ain’t beat up nobody!”
Paul, 25, knocked out fellow YouTuber Ali Eson Gib, former NBA point guard Nate Robinson and UFC veteran Ben Askren in his first three fights. After defeating former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley by split decision in his fourth fight, the Westlake, Ohio native viciously knocked out Woodley in the sixth round of their rematch December 18 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
Paul (5-0, 4 KOs) was supposed to fight Tommy Fury, a half-brother of WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, on December 18 and again August 6. Rahman replaced Fury last week, this time because Fury (8-0, 4 KOs) couldn’t travel to the United States to oppose Paul.
“You ain’t beat up nobody,” Rahman reiterated. “Anybody can get to 5-0 fighting nobodies. Come on, man. You ain’t fought nobody that boxed before. You fought everybody in they debut, and then rematched somebody. Stop it, bruh. Stop it.”
Rahman (12-1, 6 KOs) was in no mood to make a wager with Paul, either. When Rahman refused to bet money on the outcome of their Showtime Pay-Per-View main event, Paul persisted and offered that the winner could change the loser’s Instagram handle to whatever he wants.
Rahman refused that offer, too.
“I’m not entertaining you and your content, bruh,” Rahman said. “I’m here to whup your ass. I’m gonna f--- you up on August 6th. And that’s the bottom line – point blank, period. No menstrual cycle.”
James McKenzie Morrison (20-0-2, 18 KOs), a son of late WBO heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison, beat Rahman by technical knockout in Rahman’s most recent fight. Rahman, a Baltimore native, was ahead 40-36 on all three scorecards when McKenzie Morrison dropped him in the fifth round and stopped him after Rahman reached his feet.
Paul is listed as a 2-1 favorite to beat Rahman in part because Rahman lost his last bout by TKO. Rahman, who has fought at heavyweight throughout his five-year pro career, also must make the cruiserweight limit of 200 pounds the day before he opposes Paul.
“He’s gonna get beat up by a singer, a musician, a sea-shell collector, a amateur,” Paul said. “I’m a Disney boy. I’m a YouTuber.”
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
