The highly-anticipated return of social media megastar turned boxer, Jake Paul, to the ring is a moment that fans have been eagerly waiting for. His opponent? None other than the current face of Bare Knuckle boxing, “Platinum” Mike Perry, a former UFC legend.
This intriguing sideshow replaces the originally scheduled Paul versus Mike Tyson bout. Although the hype isn’t quite the same as ‘Iron Mike’s return, Perry is certainly the next best ‘Mike’ available.
Read on for our complete betting guide with an early preview of the Paul vs. Perry main event clash, including updated boxing odds and our free expert UFC analysis and predictions.
Our Top Betting Pick
- Paul by KO/TKO (-120) at Bet365 (check our Bet365 Review)
Paul vs. Perry: Fear No Man
Saturday, July 20, 2024 – 08:00 PM ET at Amalie Arena
- Scheduled Bouts: 9
- Main Event: Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry
- Moneyline Probability: Paul – 83.3% (-500) / Perry – 22.2% (+350)
Paul vs. Perry: Tale of the Tape
| Jake Paul | Mike Perry | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | Age | 32 |
| 6’1” | Height | 5’10” |
| 76” | Reach | 71” |
| USA | Nationality | USA |
| N/A | Affiliation | UFC Gym Winter Springs |
| 3 wins | Current Streak | 1 loss |
| 9-1-2000 | Pro Boxing Record | 0-1-0 [5-0 BKFC] |
| 6 | Knockouts | 0 [3 KOs BKFC] |
| -1200 [win], -550 [win], -275 [win] | Moneyline Betting History | N/A |
Jake Paul: Bullying Former Mixed Martial Artists
Although it pains me to say that we can no longer doubt Jake Paul’s seriousness in the world of boxing, sure, the majority of his nine career wins were against aging, beatdown, and former UFC stars. Still, if you compare “The Problem Child’s” early tenure opponents to any other pro boxer, he’s actually competed against fighters with more combat sports experience.
I won’t dance around the fact that most of Paul’s opponents have gifted him a size, weight, and power advantage. The Paul team has meticulously selected who he fights. However, he has won many of those bouts in brutal fashion. While he certainly has a lot to learn, the continuation of walking through lesser-experienced MMA athletes turned boxers, is seemingly a great marketing plan as the Ohio native builds his knowledge in the sweet science.
Paul Best Moneyline Odds: -500 with Bet365
Mike Perry: Turning Up for the Payday
“Platinum” Mike Perry is loved by the MMA community. A large chunk of the fan base he grew as a UFC competitor followed his journey to bare-knuckle boxing, where he was surprisingly greeted with a five-fight win streak.
However, the honest truth is that BKFC isn’t pro boxing. Perry won’t have the luxuries of knocking teeth out, walking down his opponents without regard for defense, and the ability to cut and bruise Paul up within seconds.
As “Platinum” laces up the gloves, he’ll enter a whole new world. No matter how much striking experience he has, past training camps haven’t focussed on the intricacies of professional boxing, and the aggressive nature in which he fights might cause him more harm than good.
With a -500 moneyline and almost every outside factor favoring Paul, it’s hard not to think that Perry is simply turning up for a fat paycheck.
Perry Best Moneyline Odds: +350 with Bet365
Paul vs. Perry Skillset Analysis: The Sweet Science
Paul is no world-class boxer, far from it, actually. But with just six years of training, he operates at a significantly higher level than the opponent his team hand-picks. He loves to fight behind the jab, control the distance, and find his range early. Once his range-finding approach is complete, he’ll headhunt with the powerful overhand right, which has earned him six knockouts from his nine wins to date.
Perry has only competed in one professional boxing contest (2015), and he was dominated. Therefore, we have no choice but to analyze his boxing skills via the bare-knuckle tape. Unfortunately, it could be a short night if he chooses to approach Paul with his BKFC style.
Perry’s Disadvantages
“Platinum” is aggressive from the onset; he’s always fighting with his hands low, and the intimidation factor backs his foes into a corner they cannot get out of. Pro boxing presents more and longer rounds, and the tempo he’s used to would see him fade early, while the damage he’s used to landing will also be absent.
We must also consider the weight factor. Perry was a career 170-pounder in the UFC, and although 185lbs has been his home in BKFC, he’s always looked undersized. So, now, should we expect him to garner success at 200 pounds?!
Not only will Paul have a massive height and reach advantage, but he could potentially walk into fight night at 220 or above! Ultimately, Perry is fighting a heavyweight; he surrenders every variable imaginable. The pair actually sparred a few years back, and Perry openly said, “You whopped my a**.”
Paul by KO/TKO: Paul vs. Perry Betting Formula
The available odds at OddsTrader’s top sportsbooks have Paul sitting behind an 83% win probability. There isn’t much evidence to argue against this price point, but we definitely boost our returns because Perry isn’t likely to survive eight rounds.
Aggression is all that Perry knows, and eventually, he’s going to walk straight into Paul’s lethal overhand right. With a career that’s involved countless wars, yes, he’s only 33, but “Platinum” has taken so much damage, and the heavyweight frame of “The Problem Child” is the perfect answer to expose this.
Best Bet: Paul by KO/TKO (-120) at Bet365 [1.2u to win 1u]
Fear No Man Boxing Event Main Card Schedule
- Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry [200lbs]
- Amanda Serrano vs. Stevie Morgan [126lbs]
- Tony Aguilar vs. Corey Marksman [135lbs]
- Ashton Sylve vs. Lucas Bahdi [135lbs]
- Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Uriah Hall [200lbs]
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
