JBrayne posted: " Jake Paul vs Tyron Woodley Predictions Pintsized Background Everyone's favourite YouTuber, Jake Paul, is back at it again with his boxing circus show. This time former UFC champion, Tyron Woodley, has the prize of the biggest payda"
Everyone's favourite YouTuber, Jake Paul, is back at it again with his boxing circus show. This time former UFC champion, Tyron Woodley, has the prize of the biggest payday of his career. Perhaps the biggest clown in all of this debacle is Dana White and the UFC's refusal to stream a healthy share of their profits towards fair fighter pay. Paul vs Woodley is a more intriguing affair than Askren, if not for the simple fact that Woodley's ego will not allow him to keel over for a payday like his campmate.
The can man, Tommy Fury, will be hoping for an early knockout to secure his Magnum Opus fight against Jake Paul. Sadly, Amanda Serrano and her Featherweight GOAT status have been kicked into obscurity during the Paul vs Woodley press conference beef. Ivan Baranchyk also looks to rebuild after a devastating knockout loss last time out, jumping up to Welterweight.
The prospect of reality TV's biggest showdown has teenage girls swooning | Paul vs Woodley
Paul vs Woodley: Main Event
Jake Paul (3-0, 3KO) vs Tyron Woodley (DEBUT)
Cruiserweight (200)
Jake Paul
The king of match-making returns again. As a neutral throughout the entire Youtuber boxing migration, it is sad to see Jake Paul follow a safer and more financially lucrative career path than the vast majority of boxers. Of course, Paul already had money in the bank to access the top trainers, gyms and enabled him to wait for prime opportunities. Yet even former Olympians and top amateur prospects rarely embark on such a wildly easy and profitable path. Paul could have knocked over a couple of 0-50 cans, in a similar vein to Tommy Fury, but instead, he cashed in on over-the-hill veterans with big reputations. The fact that he is a far sharper technical boxer than many give him credit for only serves in his favour as well.
Tyron Woodley, former UFC Welterweight champion, represents another incremental step on the Paul path. While Woodley is another MMA turned boxer, he is also the first opponent for Paul that meets his weight. Jake remains the naturally larger man, but Woodley's physique may lead to Paul's early-round power missing. Mentally, however, Paul has cherry-picked his opponent. Riding a four-fight slide that began with an undisputed champion at the top of his division, Woodley's ego forces him to continue in combat sports. If Woodley cannot force Paul into early 50/50 exchanges, trading power for power, then each successive round will wear heavily on the former champ.
Dragging Woodley into the later rounds appears to be the safest path to victory. While we haven't got any evidence of Paul's gas tank suiting such a task, we do know that Woodley flags up hard if forced to push anything beyond 20 strikes each round. In five-round fights that went to the final bell against Covington, Burns and Usman - Woodley threw a respective 116, 101, and 79 total strikes. Defensive grappling blurs the stats, of course, but Woodley's career style has always been to conserve stamina and wait for the perfect overhand. If Paul stays safe behind the jab during the early proceedings, Woodley may well find himself lost. Either Tyron chases the taller man and tires himself out in search of a quick finish, or he opts for his typical strategy of sitting on the ropes. Against a boxer who has regularly shown a crisp jab, front-foot and back-foot, that is regularly doubled and tripled at times, Woodley may well have to bank on Paul's mental capitulation.
Tyron Woodley
As a fan and analyst, it is important not to be blinded by pre-fight antics. Sure, the Jake Paul vs Mama Woodley beef is intriguing, as it surely riled Woodley up. But I doubt that has changed his mindset entering this fight. Instead, Woodley will almost certainly fight similarly as to the twilight of his MMA career.
The biggest issue that Woodley faces upon entering boxing is his concrete footwork and positional awareness. In the UFC, Woodley was perfectly happy to back himself onto the ropes and waiting for the prime opportunity to land his nuclear overhand. Without his wrestling threat, wearing larger gloves, and an apparent inability to time the trigger anymore, the prospect of that Woodley overhand landing drops dramatically. Paul has shown the capability to pin opponents down with a jab. Constraining Woodley to the ropes with his jab, Paul can keep a comfortable distance with his 2" reach and speed advantage while remaining defensively aware of the single right hand.
Training with Pedro Diaz is a top sign of intent from Woodley, however. While former campmate, Ben Askren, took the fight as a joke and paid the price (although receiving a huge payday), Woodley is cut from a different cloth. Winning matters to the former champion, and he undoubtedly has dedicated himself to the transition. Unfortunately, boxing is a different game entirely - regardless of the odd 'Anderson Silva vs Chaves Jr' win. Jake Paul is not yet an established boxer, but he is for sure better suited to the boxing skillset than Woodley. The jab will reign king once again.
Predicted Result:Paul Decision
The king of match-making returns again. Tyron Woodley, former UFC Welterweight champion, represents another incremental step on the Jake Paul path to the top. While Woodley is again an MMA turned boxer, he is also first opponent that can somewhat match Paul's weight. Woodley's glory days were already far behind him before this fight, riding a four-fight slide, and continuing on the basis of ego and past glory alone.
As a fan and analyst, it is important not to be blinded by pre-fight antics. Sure, the Jake Paul vs Mama Woodley beef is intriguing, as it surely riled Woodley up. Yet realistically, it isn't going to change anything in Woodley's approach. Concrete footwork and a desire to back himself against the ropes will allow Paul to pin him down with a jab. Without his wrestling threat, wearing larger gloves, and an apparent inability to time the trigger anymore, the prospect of that Woodley overhand landing drops dramatically.
Dragging Woodley into the later rounds appears to be the safest path to victory. While we haven't got any evidence of Paul's gas tank suiting such a task, we do know that Woodley flags up hard if forced to push anything beyond 20 strikes each round. In five-round fights that went to the final bell against Covington, Burns and Usman - Woodley threw a respective 116, 101, and 79 total strikes. Defensive grappling blurs the stats, of course, but Woodley's career style has always been to conserve stamina and wait for the perfect overhand. Jake Paul is not yet an established boxer, but he is for sure better suited to the boxing skillset than Woodley. The jab will reign king once again.
Not many men can say they have knocked out Ben Askren, twilight of his career or not | Paul vs Woodley
Amanda Serrano (40-1-1, 30KO) vs Yamileth Mercado (18-2, 5KO)
Women's Featherweight (126)
WBC World Female Featherweight Title
WBO World Female Featherweight Title
IBO World Female Featherweight Title
Amanda Serrano
The top Women's Featherweight boxer features as a co-main on a Youtuber's card - could this feel anymore 2021? Serrano is a household name for most hardcore boxing fans, even with the limited air time she receives outside of the US. Putting her WBC and WBO belts on the line (sorry IBO, you don't really count) once again, Serrano should have a pretty easy night of it compared to her last defence. Walking down the rugged Daniela Bermudez, Serrano out-classed her opponent on the inside and out. Serrano's ability to build off successful strikes is her bread and butter. Pinning opponents with a hard counter straight or stopping their forward momentum with a solid jab, Serrano doesn't reset but instead fires off a snappy three-shot combination. With ridiculous power when considering the division, in addition to a wealth of experience, Serrano will go down as one of the best.
Yamileth Mercado
Fighting out of native Mexico for just the second time in her career, losing her first time out in Kenya back in 2018, Mercado is totally out-gunned in this affair. Moving up from Super Bantamweight, Mercado leaves behind her WBC belt that she secured at the second time of asking. Only twenty-three, there is a lot of time for Mercado to grow into her body, but it is a HUGE ask to do it first time against the potential Featherweight GOAT. Preferring to fight on the inside and keep her shots short, Serrano won't be as willing to fight in the pocket as her fellow Mexican patriots. Moreover, being wobbled this year by Julissa Guzman, an average fighter at best, leaves much to be desired. Dropping the left hand when throwing the right hook is simply inexcusable, and Serrano will brutally dispose of Mercado unless she has resolved the issue.
Predicted Result:Serrano TKO Round 4
Serrano is a household name for most hardcore boxing fans, even with the limited air time she receives outside of the US. Putting her WBC and WBO belts on the line (sorry IBO, you don't really count) once again, Serrano should have a pretty easy night of it compared to her last defence. Serrano's ability to build off successful strikes is her bread and butter. Pinning opponents with a hard counter straight or stopping their forward momentum with a solid jab, Serrano doesn't reset but instead fires off a snappy three-shot combination.
Fighting out of native Mexico for just the second time in her career, and moving up to Super Bantamweight to face the Featherweight GOAT, Mercado is totally out-gunned in this affair. Preferring to fight on the inside and keep her shots short, Serrano won't be as willing to fight in the pocket as her fellow Mexican patriots. Dropping the left hand when throwing the right hook is simply inexcusable, and Serrano will brutally dispose of Mercado unless she has resolved the issue.
Thank the Lord this cursed card is blessed with an actual fight of significance | Paul vs Woodley
Daniel Dubois (16-1, 15KO) vs Joe Cusumano (19-3, 17KO)
Heavyweight (200+)
Daniel Dubois
It is still too early to tell just how the move to McGuigan will aid Dubois' development, but the young Heavyweight sparkled against Bogdan Dinu last time out. Sure, the big Romanian policeman isn't a top-ten fighter, but he is a massive boar of a man who has is more than capable of grinding opponents down in ugly affairs. It wasn't that long ago that Dinu gave Pulev fits during the early rounds of their fight. Never biting on Dinu's cute shoulder feints, Dubois looked sharper on the outside and capable of shifting on the inside of incoming straight shots. As long as the Joyce fight hasn't created a repeat offender eye injury, it will prove the perfect learning curve for the young man. Some work on the inside needs to be ironed out, but it's unlikely he'll ever be totally bullied up close.
Joe Cusumano
Toiling away on the regional US scene, Joe Cusumano has been quietly amassing himself a tasty record on paper. Unfortunately, it doesn't hold up much to scrutiny. The first-round stoppage over Michael Marrone would have been a decent showing a decade ago, however, the victory in 2018 was sandwiched between Marrone's eight-fight stoppage slide. Likewise, Gregory Corbin was a bright prospect just three years ago, but Cusumano's victory came after Corbin dropped three on the bounce. Cusumano's ceiling was best shown against Steve Vukosa. Despite his length, Cusumano fails to keep active on the outside. Instead, the American prefers to push opponents to the ropes and land volume. Cusumano's bodywork is a positive sign, ripping uppercuts through the centre and hooks around an opponent's elbows, but he doesn't have the size to pressure Dubois. Not only does Cusumano follow opponents rather than cut off the ring, but he will also be hurt by Dubois' thudding jab as he follows the Brit with his hands down.
Predicted Result:Dubois TKO Round 4
Cusumano is a decently durable fighter with a taste for bodywork on the inside, but he finds himself in a stylistic nightmare. Without the size to pressure Dubois to the ropes, nor the activity on the outside to make the most of his length, Cusumano is a prime target for Dubois' jab. Since moving to McGuigan, Dubois has looked more defensively sound on the outside. Against Dinu, Dubois didn't bite on the Romanian's frequent hand feints and slipped inside of incoming straight shots. In a jabbing war that is already won before the fight starts, Dubois can bide his time softening up Cusumano before finding the finisher.
Montana Love (15-0-1, 7KO) vs Ivan Baranchyk (20-2, 13KO)
Welterweight (147)
Montana Love
Montana Love faces the biggest step-up of his career on Saturday night. Building up his career the hard way, Love defeated two top prospects, Samuel Teah and Jerrico Walton, in convincing fashion. Unfortunately for Love, if Baranchyk hasn't changed his style too drastically, this will be a painful night. Love's defence is largely centred around a tight high guard and waiting for a short counter. Baranchyk may be moving up in weight, but he is a powerful hitter and will latch onto a stationary opponent. Love may well have a solid chin, but Baranchyk has confirmed elite power.
Ivan Baranchyk
Former IBF world champion, Ivan Baranchyk, finds himself at Welterweight after failing to secure his place back at the top of Super Lightweight. Playing his part in a decision against Josh Taylor, Baranchyk maintained a lethal forward pressure against the eventual number one Super Lightweight. Dipping head movement, both to slip shots and set up hooks from unorthodox angles, Baranchyk aims to work his way in the pocket. From there, Baranchyk backs his chin to drop his hands and swing powerful hooks to the head and body. Unfortunately for Baranchyk, he has just recently come off a brutal knockout loss in a Fight of the Year against Jose Zepeda. With seven total knockdowns in the fight, three for Zepeda and four for Baranchyk, the Belarussian crumpled hard in the fifth round. It was a brutal stoppage loss and after such a damaging finish, it always leaves questions over the state of a fighter's return.
Predicted Result:Baranchyk TKO Round 5
Former IBF world champion, Ivan Baranchyk, finds himself at Welterweight after failing to secure his place back at the top of Super Lightweight. Coming off a brutal knockout loss to Jose Zepeda after a back-and-forth Fight of the Year candidate, questions remain over the lasting impact it will have made. Still, Montana Love may well be out of his depth in this affair. Love's defence is largely centred around a tight high guard and waiting for a short counter. Baranchyk may be moving up in weight, but he carries elite power that will likely carry up in weight. With Love happy to back himself into corners, and Baranchyk preferring to work on the inside, this is gonna be a bloody affair.
Can-crusher extraordinaire, Tommy Fury, continues to ride his Love Island and brother's name to success. Say what you want about a lack of amateur career, youth, blah blah blah. Tommy is six fights into his professional career and his opponent's combined records can only muster 14 wins from 193 fights. Three of his opponents have never secured a victory, four if you count Anthony Taylor, and yet he was praised for taking on a 2-0 fighter last time out? Grant's biggest claim to fame is twenty fights on the unlicensed circuit, yet was able to find regular success against Tommy. The hands low style does not suit the static head movement, and while his volume and activity will win him fights at such a lowly level, his tendency to get caught coming off the ropes is a huge issue that needs to be resolved.
Anthony Taylor
An MMA fighter turned boxer, Taylor fought at a decent level early in his career, plying his trade at Bellator. While the losses have piled on Taylor's record, he is a notorious late notice fighter and should be applauded rather than mocked for such an approach - you've got to eat. Having struggled with homelessness and mental health, it is nice to see Taylor get a payday. Moreover, Taylor is no stranger to shock victories - defeating Dean Barry on a last-minute call-up. Taylor's hands are crisp enough for a lasting boxing career, however.
Predicted Result:Fury TKO Round 5
Tommy is six fights into his professional career and his opponent's combined records can only muster 14 wins from 193 fights. The hands low style does not suit the static head movement, and while his volume and activity will win him fights at such a lowly level, his tendency to get caught coming off the ropes is a huge issue that needs to be resolved. Jordan Grant, a man renowned for unlicensed fighting, hit Fury regularly with clean shots. Taylor, an MMA turned boxer, is no stranger to shock victories (e.g. Dean Barry) but his hands are not crisp enough for boxing. It is nice for Taylor to earn a payday after struggles with homelessness, but Fury has should grind out another ugly win.
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