After an epic bout in Cleveland, Jake Paul vs Tyron Woodley ended in a dramatic split decision in favor of the 24-year-old local favorite, there are serious question marks over where Jake Paul's burgeoning boxing career might go next. The YouTube star went toe-to-toe with former UFC welterweight champion Woodley, in what many have called his most impressive performance to date. Given the caliber of his opponent and the narrow margin of victory, this recent fight could mark a significant step-change in Paul's combat sports career.
Like his brother Logan, Jake Paul has made several forays into the boxing ring. However, unlike Logan – whose most famous bout was probably the exhibition fight against the Floyd "Money" Mayweather – Jake has eschewed big names in favor of building his professional reputation. His career to date has included three other wins, all via knock-out, over fellow YouTuber AnEsonGib, basketball player Nate Robinson, and former Bellator MMA fighter Ben Askren. After beating combat sports veterans Askren and Woodley, Paul has well and truly established himself on the global boxing stage.
Despite his eventual victory, the bout against Woodley certainly wasn't straightforward. Over the course of the eight rounds, Paul was rocked by a flurry of powerful shots – at one stage relying on the ropes for support. After four more rounds of back and forth action, Paul eventually emerged triumphant on the judges' cards, taking the fight 77-75, 75-77, 78-74. Understandably, this success has led to intense speculation over who might be next for the fighter. However, now that the dust has settled, it seems that there are two likely options: British boxer Tommy Fury or a rematch against Woodley.
Who Will Jake Paul Fight Next?
The first comes in the form WBC and Ring Magazine titleholder Tyson Fury's brother and former Love Island star, Tommy Fury. Both Fury and Paul have previously engaged in verbal sparring, and their rivalry reached a head during the aftermath of the Woodley clash. In an exchange backstage, Fury called out Paul, demanding that the pair face off as soon as possible. This followed a previous demand from Fury made after his defeat of Anthony Taylor on the Paul/Woodley undercard. Given the history of enmity between the pair, a bout seems all but inevitable at some point in the near future.
However, despite Fury's demands and verbal onslaught, he may have to wait a while to get his shot at Paul, due to the demands of the defeated Woodley. Following the split decision, an incensed Woodley made no secret of his desire for a rematch, even agreeing to get an "I love Jake Paul" tattoo in order to get it done. While nothing is confirmed between the pair, the narrow margin of victory in the first fight makes a follow-up Jake Paul vs Tyron Woodley match a tantalizing prospect. Whoever Jake Paul fights next, interest is bound to be extremely high.