Unbeaten bare knuckle fighter Mike Perry might be set to step in for Mike Tyson against Jake Paul next month.
Perry, the former UFC welterweight who has compiled a 5-0 record in bare knuckle boxing under the BKFC banner, has been linked in the media to a short notice showdown with influencer-turned-boxer Paul, according to a report by Happy Punch. The potential development comes after Tyson was forced to withdraw from his scheduled July 20 bout against Paul which was to be streamed live on Netflix from the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
However, the report remains unconfirmed as of Wednesday morning.
Perry has repeatedly indicated his interest in a fight with Paul, some three or so years after the pair combined for a six-round sparring session that both men would later claim they ‘won’. Perry was also listed as the back-up fighter for Paul’s clash with Tommy Fury, which remains the only loss on the YouTube star’s resume.
Tyson, 57, withdrew from the July contest in recent days after sustaining what was later described as an ulcer flare-up during a flight from Miami to Los Angeles.
The Tyson-Paul bout has since been moved to November 15.
Neither Paul nor Perry have referenced the reports as of yet, though clarification (either way) is expected to arrive later on Wednesday.
Perry is 0-1 in professional boxing but owns bare knuckle wins over the likes of Thiago Alves, Luke Rockhold, Eddie Alvarez and Michael ‘Venom’ Page.
