Highlights and best moments from the explosive press conference between Jake Paul and Mike Perry ahead of their boxing showdown this weekend.
After a bitter war of words, both on social media and at the recent press conference, the stage is finally set for Jake ‘The Problem Child’ Paul and ‘Platinum’ Mike Perry to finally lock horns in the boxing ring.
Jake Paul vs Mike Perry press conference goes off the rails
The press conference started with Jake Paul actually thanking Mike Perry for ‘beating up’ his mascot at the open weigh-ins, claiming that the PR stunt only serves to market his new company, ‘W’.
In turn, Perry exclaimed that he’s going to finish Jake Paul for the various communities he represents in the world of combat sports; from Mixed Martial Arts all the way to Bare-Knuckle.
“I’m doing this for everybody, for me, for the fans, for BKFC, for MMA, just mainly for me because I believe in myself and my boxing ability – I’m a brawling, boxing mug so I’m ready to get in the ring with Jake and have some fun.”
Yet the conversation quickly shifted to the comments made by one Conor McGregor, who certainly had some choice words for Paul as he held a BKFC press conference in Marbella only a few hours earlier.
“First of all, he’s bigging up BKFC but you’re going to see what I’m going to do to their best fighter on Saturday night, I’m going to embarrass the whole entire league. This guy has no skill, those are just brawler-idiot-street fighter dudes who have no idea what the sweet science is.
“Conor McGregor can say what he wants but he won’t fight me either so once I knock out Mike Perry, Conor McGregor- let’s run it, but you won’t… Layoff the c******, get in the gym, start winning fights and then maybe we can start having a conversation.”
That comment on BKFC immediately got the attention of Perry, who lambasted the crowd for clapping and cheering Jake’s jibe: “He’s a disrespectful punk, those men and women fight for their families over there, they get in that ring, and they put on a show for the fans!”
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Contrary to popular belief, Perry isn’t making his boxing debut on Saturday, having lost his only previous fight back in 2015; with Jake Paul stating that he’s studied footage from that bout extremely closely:
“He had a boxing match in a triangle that I gained a lot of knowledge from, [he leaves] a lot of openings and it’s going to be a short night. He’s open for anything that I want to throw at him.”
“But I’ve been winning since then,” countered Perry, “That’s all I know, I’ve been victorious consistently and I’ve been getting better every single day to put this little twerp in his place – welcome, welcome, you just got here.”
The pair then started the first of many arguments shouting over the top of each other; with Paul arguing that Perry should be considered the newcomer as he’s 0-1 in boxing, whilst ‘Platinum’ pointed out that he’s had over 30 professional fights.
“That’s cool and I’m [still] going to beat you – isn’t that crazy? I’m 0-1 but how many pro boxers have you fought? Two guys and the last one – ey, I’m glad you got your shirt open so everyone can see your fat a** belly – you’re as fat as the last guy you knocked out and you barely knocked him out!
“Don’t worry, you’re going to get what you’ve been asking for – for the fight to go longer than one round; I’m going to give you hell in the first, second, just wait and watch… Then you’re going to get tired and be grasping for air – I just made up a new word, grasping. You’re going to be grasping for air.”
Irritated by Perry questioning his physique, Paul noted that he expects to weigh around 215lbs after rehydrating on Saturday evening, Perry in turn said he’ll probably weigh in around 194-196lbs.
“That doesn’t matter, none of that matters – skills are what pay the bills,” noted Paul, adding that whilst Perry is a fantastic fighter when he’s on the front foot in Bare-Knuckle, he lacks the necessary head movement and defense to survive ‘The Problem Child’.
“He’s going to get picked apart very quickly and it’s going to be a short night. My predictions are never wrong, so I stand on business every time… I will knock out Mike Perry in less than two rounds, put some money on it.”
“You got beat by Love Island boy,” Perry interjected, referencing Paul’s loss to Tommy Fury in 2023- “Love Island boy beat you up and he ain’t no killer and he [still] beat you up,”
It was at this point when Paul brought out a ‘gift’ for his opponent, a graduation cap with ‘Private School Perry’ written on its top- Perry tossed it into the air and claimed victory, “I never got to do this – I’m graduating before I beat your a** on Saturday!”
The questions would then be opened up to the audience and let’s just say that there were some interesting statements being floated around the Amalie Arena stage.
The pair then finally squared off in an intense moment in front of a rather subdued crowd.
Amanda Serrano vs Stevie Morgan
Despite having a rematch with Katie Taylor already booked for November 15, Amanda Serrano, one of the greatest female boxers of all time, returns to action to face 8-1 American Stevie Morgan.
Whilst not many questions were directed their way, there was certainly some tension on stage between the two following comments that Morgan made about Serrano being one of the weaker fighters on the women’s pound-for-pound rankings.
Amanda Serrano: “Listen, I don’t pay attention to that, that doesn’t win fights and that doesn’t pay my bills, I go out, I train hard, I fight hard, and you’ll see Saturday night.”
Stevie Morgan: “I’m not being disrespectful at all; I’m just stating facts. If I had to pick any of the fighters at the top, Amanda Serrano would be the one I would choose mainly because she’s going to make me look good.”
The full card for ‘Fear No Man’, the title of the event itself, includes the following fights:
- Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry
- Amanda Serrano vs. Stevie Morgan
- H20 Sylve vs. Lucas Bahdi
- Tony Aguilar vs. Corey Marksman
- Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Uriah Hall
- Shadasia Green vs. Natasha Spence
- Alexis Chaparro vs. Kevin Hill
- Angel Barrientes vs. Edwin Rodriguez
- Ariel Perez vs. Dane Guerrero
Jake Paul vs Mike Perry goes down live from the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida on July 20, exclusively on the DAZN PPV network.