Whether we want it or not, Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley are running it back. The boxing odds have Paul (4-0-0, 3 KOs) as a bigger favorite this time. Can the YouTube star-turned boxer beat Woodley more decisively this time? Or will it be Woodley (0-1-0) get redemption and finish Paul off for good?
- Date: Saturday, 9 p.m. ET
- Venue: Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL
- Watch on: Showtime Pay-per-view
Paul vs Woodley II: Redemption or Further Mockery?
Thanks to Tommy Fury pulling out, Paul will now have a rematch against Woodley. The pair have already discussed this rematch as soon as Woodley lost a contentious decision to Paul, provided he got Paul’s name tattooed on himself.
Woodley nearly had Paul earlier this summer. The former UFC champion knocked Paul down and had him dead-to-rights. But as typical as it is for “The Frozen One,” he stared at Paul and let him back into the fight. A few moments later, Paul would earn his hardest-fought victory while Woodley would be left with another “L” on his record.
Woodley Must Leave Everything in Ring
If you’ve been a longtime watcher of mixed martial arts, particularly the UFC, you’re much wiser to Woodley’s antics. The 39-year-old was at one point one of the most feared fighters on the planet. He’s authored some of the most violent knockouts in the UFC, but that was a long time ago.
Woodley has not won a fight since 2018 and in four of his five losses he barely did anything, thus earning his unflattering Frozen One moniker. He only averaged 2.36 significant strikes landed per minute in the octagon. So it didn’t come as a shock to fans that he couldn’t pull the trigger against Paul.
While Woodley still possesses one-punch knockout power, he does not have the killer instinct. Maybe he’s old. Maybe he’s taken one too many beatings. Whatever the case may be, Woodley needs to leave it all in the ring if he wants to beat Paul. Until then, he’s a cautionary tale for online gambling even if he has more lucrative betting odds this time around.
Paul Can Bury Rivalry for Good
The Woodley fight could not have gone any better for Paul. Sure, he was this close to getting knocked out. But he defeated his most difficult opponent and earned a big payday. Woodley was just another prop for Paul as he continues to build a credible combat sports resume.
But simply surviving Woodley won’t cut it this time. The book is out on Woodley: He’s a shot fighter who, other than fleeting moments, is another punching bag. Paul has tasted Woodley’s power and lived to tell the tale. He’ll be better this time around and will be more confident.
Paul won the earlier fight by simply being more active, something that isn’t hard to do against Woodley. Heck, maybe Paul can take this one up a notch and go for the KO himself. Woodley has been so gun shy that even if Paul left himself open, he’d find it difficult to knock him out.
It’s 2021 and we’re at this point where betting online on a YouTuber over a former UFC champion is the “smart” way to play a card. But maybe Woodley can turn the tables and make it a truly embarrassing experience to stake some cash on Paul. Only one way to find out …
