CLEVELAND — Jake Paul had only gone beyond the first round once. How would he fare if he was forced to go longer than that on Sunday night against Tyron Woodley?
Woodley showed he was nothing like Paul's previous three opponents. But when it was all said and done, Paul demonstrated that he could take a punch, use his boxing acumen, and have the cardio to go the distance as the YouTube star turned boxer won via split decision (75-77, 77-75, 78-74). DAZN News scored the fight 78-74 for Paul.
"He's a tough opponent," Paul admitted in his post-fight interview. "He's been fighting for 20-something years. I've been doing this for three years. It was a tougher fight than I expected."
The crowd inside the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse was on its feet from the beginning to the end of the fight. Paul showed a little bit of everything. He was light on his feet and showed a better than expected jab to control the distance and keep Woodley at bay.
Woodley (0-1) had chances. He was able to cut off the ring and would walk Paul down. But more often than not, the former UFC welterweight champion was tentative and unwilling to engage. The one moment Woodley had was in the fourth round when he uncorked an overhand right that nearly sent Paul through the ropes. Paul was able to push himself up and even wobbled Woodley with a left hook at the end of the round.
The remainder of the fight belonged to Paul. He hurt Woodley a few times but could not put him away and went the distance for the first time in his short boxing career. `
It had been thought that Tommy Fury would be next after the half-brother of Tyson Fury beat Anthony Taylor via unanimous decision earlier in the night. However, Paul wasn't sure if that would be the case as he said he wants a bit of rest before he decides his next course of action,
That thought didn't last long, though, as Woodley felt he did enough to win the fight and requested a rematch.
"I feel like I won the fight," Woodley said adamantly. "The fact that one judge gave me two rounds is disrespectful. F— the Fury fight, I want a rematch."
Paul (4-0, 3 KOs) said he won the fight, but if Woodley gets the agreed-upon tattoo since he lost, then he'd agree to a sequel. Woodley said he'd get the ink and the two shook hands to run it back.
Here is what happened at Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley.