Logan Paul warned brother Jake against taking his new fight against Hasim Rahman Jr after Tommy Fury was forced out of their scheduled bout.
Rahman has been drafted in as a late and unexpected replacement for the Brit after visa issues sunk a second fight between the pair. But with a 12-1 record including six KOs and wins over three opponents with winning records at heavyweight, the American is, on paper, a tougher test than Fury.
Paul and Rahman have met before on multiple occasions, sparring twice during the build up to his early professional fights with YouTuber AnEsonGib and basketball star Nate Robinson. But there appears to be bad blood after a video Paul shared of Rahman getting angry with him following one of their more heated spars.
"I’ve wanted this fight ever since Hasim ran his big mouth to me two years ago in the gym," Paul said in a lengthy Instagram post. "My brother and manager didn’t want me to take this fight. They said it was too much risk.
"The New York State Athletic Commission didn’t want to approve this fight because they said Hasim had too much experience for me. He has over 100 amateur fights. 10x more than Tommy."
However, Paul claims he wants to show his heart by taking a massive risk within just six professional bouts after a sole amateur outing in 2018. He cited the opponents of Floyd Mayweather, Canelo Alvarez and Gervonta Davis in their respective early fights and claimed to have "more drive" than any boxer at his level.
"But I’m built different," he added. "I’m psychotic. CHAOTIC. PROBLEMATIC. But 'he’s a heavyweight' they said. It don’t matter to me, I'm the fighting flea, they can’t hit me. I’m slippery like butter and with speed like no other. My power is unique and my style is sleek. I’ve made the toughest men weak. I’m not afraid of any man or what 'can' happen.
Do you believe that Hasim Rahman Jr is a tougher challenge than Tommy Fury for Jake Paul at this stage of his career? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
"No boxer has taken this big of a risk this early in their career. They don't have my heart, they don’t have my soul, they don't have my drive, and they definitely don't have my team. Welcome to history. Take a picture."
Paul has often insisted that opponents he faces must have similar levels of star power, or bring something considerable to the table in promotion as well as, and at times possibly more so than, in the ring. But Rahman has a tiny following on social media compared to any of his five opponents at professional or amateur, and is a much more dangerous boxer.
The pair will go head-to-head at a press conference in New York next Tuesday afternoon to officially launch the fight. Tickets will go on sale for the event, which also features the return of Amanda Serrano at featherweight, at the same time.
