All Business: Paul v August Preview and Prediction

For once, Jake Paul is all business as he bucks bizarre sideshows to face legitimate albeit little-known boxer Andre August at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida on Friday night (Saturday morning SA time), writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.

Jake Paul (1.14) v Andre August (5.50) (Cruiserweight)

4 AM Saturday SA time

Paul’s a YouTuber turned prize-fighter. His boxing career started as a joke and while he’s gained the respect of some over the last few years, he’s still an outsider in the combat sports world.

He’s also a serial risk-taker who often has side bets with his opponents, one of which saw former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley having to get an ‘I love Jake Paul’ tattoo after he lost to the former Disney star.

It’s therefore ironic that in the fight with the less buzz, he’s arguably taking the biggest risk. Seemingly fed up with being seen as a boxing fraud, Paul isn’t fighting a fellow influencer, celebrity or washed-up mixed martial arts fighter like he usually does but is instead fighting a legitimate boxer. Granted, August is a little-known journeyman, but at least he’s a trained boxer.

The only previous time Paul shared the ring with a boxer, he came up short. It happened in Saudi Arabia in February when he lost to Tommy Fury. To his credit, he was anything but outclassed by the brother of heavyweight great Tyson Fury, dropping a split decision.

He bounced back from that setback, the first of his career, with a decision win over MMA icon Nick Diaz in August to move to 7-1 with four knockouts and has now stripped away the cringe-worthy, attention-seeking promotion tropes in search of legitimacy.

Having previously fought in arenas in the 15000 to 20000-seater ballpark on pay-per-view, this bout will take place in a 4400-capacity casino on a streamed event. Therein lies the risk. Lose this one and his hopes of having a serious career in the sweet science will go up in smoke, while the little drawing power he still has left will also take a further hit.

Fortunately for “The Problem Child”, he appears to have once again chosen his opponent wisely. That August is a relatively unknown commodity 10 years into his career tells you more about his talent level than his 10-1-1 record.

For his part, Paul has definitely improved. He has proven one-punch knockout power, unwavering confidence and mental fortitude and showed in the Diaz fight, which went the full 10 rounds, that he has a good gas tank. This is an eight-round affair, which will be a first for August.

August, a professional since 2013, has claimed half of his wins by knockout with his lone defeat coming by TKO to Eric Abraham back in 2018. He last fought in August, winning a decision over Brandon Martin in a six-rounder.

He hasn’t fought any notable opponents, nor has he challenged for any major titles, but he did clinch the Texas Combative Sports Program light heavyweight title with a decision win over Santario Martin in 2019. The collective record of his opponents is 34-65-6, whilst Paul’s is 14-8-0.

He has better fundamentals than Paul but at 35 and 5’10”, he’s nine years older and three inches shorter than his polarising opponent. A volume puncher as opposed to a power wielder, he does his best work going to the body in close.

He does leave himself open to counters, though. The game plan for Paul will thus be to keep him at the end of Paul’s punches and counter if he does get inside.

Not having a big crowd and all the bells and whistles that come with it could see Paul get off to a slow start, however, he has such an advantage when it comes to athleticism and speed that he should get his hand raised.