Mike Perry is set to face off with Jake Paul in Florida later this year, and one viewer will be watching more intently than anyone.
The bare-knuckle boxer has made a name for himself in the squared circle, but previously had a long run in the UFC, where he developed a number of rivalries. Perhaps no feud was deeper than with Darren Till, whom he has maintained a tumultuous relationship with ever since.
Till and Perry have been going back-and-forth for years in a feud marred with both love and hate at times. They regularly appear in online face-offs via Instagram live or Perry’s podcast, but it appears there is still a rivalry that must be settled in the ring.
Darren Till backs Jake Paul to beat Mike Perry in surprise fight pick
While Till is keen to get a fight of his own with Jake Paul, he will first have to get back to winning ways inside the boxing ring. He has won just one of his last six fights since 2018, but is expected to get a victory when he makes his boxing debut tomorrow night at Social Knockout in Dubai.
And he expects the YouTube star to continue his winning run when he faces Mike Perry in Tampa on July 20. Speaking with Fred Talks Fighting, Till admitted that his pick for the grudge fight regularly changes, but that he is currently backing the influencer-turned-boxer.
“I keep 50/50 on both,” Till explained when asked how the fight will go. “I don’t know, some days I say Jake because I know Jake is the bigger man. But then I don’t think you can rule Perry out.
“He’s a tough man and he’s been beating all of these veterans. So it’s a 50/50. I’m going to sway towards Jake a little bit more.”
Darren Till believes Jake Paul has no way of beating him
Till was due to join Paul on the card for Netflix’s big debut in combat sports this month, but when Mike Tyson was forced out with health issues the Paul vs Tyson card was moved to November. And he still has designs on one day getting a fight with the YouTuber.
The former UFC star was asked by host Fred Beck who he feels would be a tougher fight between Jake Paul or his social media rival KSI. In response, he noted that while the American would be the more difficult opponent he can’t imagine losing to either.
“Jake Paul does [give the harder challenge] but I still don’t consider it a tough fight,” he noted. “I just don’t see how Jake beats me. I’m the same size as him, I’m better, I’m slicker, I’m fast and I’m more explosive. I’m not being arrogant with my prediction, it’s just that Jake can’t beat me.”
Darren Till doesn’t see how Mike Perry wins if pair ever have grudge fight
The fight that has truly captured the imagination with the public over the years has been Till vs Perry. The pair sparred together years ago, but now that they are out of the UFC, it is believed that they may eventually meet in BKFC.
“He just can’t beat me,” Till said of Paul, before adding: “And if I’m being honest Mike Perry can’t beat me either. I think I’d have a tougher fight with Perry in bare-knuckle obviously because he’s that guy.
“But still I just don’t see in the stand-up where they beat me, I’m just being truthful in my analysis. I’m going to perform well on Saturday and then I think I’ll push for these big fights, for me that’s the Jake Pauls and the Mike Perrys.
“That’s what I see the future being for me now, I think the paydays are going to match up and that’s what I deserve. I’ve been in this game a long time, I’ve put in a lot of blood, sweat and tears so I’m deserving of it.”
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