Current:Home > Contact-usJake Paul oozes confidence. But Andre August has faced scarier challenges than Paul.-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Jake Paul oozes confidence. But Andre August has faced scarier challenges than Paul.
View Date:2024-12-23 16:17:23
So much for those bulging muscles. So much for the 10-1-1 record with five knockouts.
Andre August, who owns all of the above, has earned little visible respect from oddsmakers or Jake Paul heading into his boxing match against Paul Friday night in Orlando, Florida and to be livestreamed by DAZN. Of course, one of the scariest things about August is something you can’t see.
His past in Beaumont, Texas.
“Man, growing up in the streets, a young Black man, gang banging with a certain hood, fighting over territory,’’ August, 35, told USA TODAY Sports. “It was gun wars back in the days, as a youngster. I could have lost my life, and I thank God for the opportunity to be where I am today.’’
The next opportunity is a fight against Paul (7-1, 4 KO's) at the cruiserweight division of 190 pounds scheduled for eight rounds. Though the fight will take place in Florida, here's the geographical reality: the chances of August pulling off the upset against a multimillionaire YouTube star who grew up in suburban Cleveland, Ohio, likely are rooted in, you guessed it, Beaumont.
August’s trainer, Justin Deshone, said he grew up on the same streets as August, who now lives in Houston.
“We’ve literally come from like the bottom, bro,’’ Deshone said. “Jake Paul can have all the resources he wants. But he’ll never have the type of experience or the struggle of what it is to actually get from the bottom to the top.’’
Why is Jake Paul fighting Andre August?
Paul has not provided a convincing answer as to why he chose to fight a reformed gang banger with Q rating clearly lower than any of his previous opponents.
“Look, the biggest criticisms are, fight a real boxer,’’ said Paul, who's taken on MMA fighters in five of his seven bouts and also fought a YouTuber. “Fight someone more experienced than you. … It’s time to show up, put it on the line, take those risks.’’
That sounded persuasive. Until a few minutes later. That's when Paul said August has “sorry’’ footwork and predicted August wouldn’t land a punch.
Regardless, Paul said his fight with August is a logical step in his progression.
“I’ve generated $250 million in pay per view revenue,’’ he said. “So that’s cool. But money doesn’t create legacy. And for me this is my road to world championship.
“And it’s about getting the experience under the bright lights to actually be able to compete at the highest, highest level and to win and to do the unthinkable and to create one of the greatest sports stories in the history of sports. To go from Disney Channel to world champion in less than six years. That is why I’m here, that is why we’re doing this, and that’s what this is all about for me.’’
veryGood! (23466)
Related
- One person is dead after a shooting at Tuskegee University
- A Plant Proposed in Youngstown, Ohio, Would Have Turned Tons of Tires Into Synthetic Gas. Local Officials Said Not So Fast
- Court rules absentee ballots with minor problems OK to count
- Proposed merger of New Mexico, Connecticut energy companies scuttled; deal valued at more than $4.3B
- Dozens indicted over NYC gang warfare that led to the deaths of four bystanders
- Are you there Greek gods? It's me, 'Percy Jackson'
- Mariah Carey Embraces Change in the New Year By Posing on Her Bad Side
- $39 Lululemon Leggings, 70% off Spanx Leggings & More Activewear Finds To Reach Your 2024 Fitness Goals
- Are Dancing with the Stars’ Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber Living Together? She Says…
- Suburbs put the brakes on migrant bus arrivals after crackdowns in Chicago and New York
Ranking
- Republican Vos reelected as Wisconsin Assembly speaker despite losing seats, fights with Trump
- NFL power rankings Week 18: Cowboys, Lions virtually tied after controversial finish
- Shay Mitchell Looks Like Kris Jenner's Twin After Debuting New Pixie Cut
- Holiday week swatting incidents target and disrupt members of Congress
- Mike Williams Instagram post: Steelers' WR shades Aaron Rodgers 'red line' comments
- Netflix, not football, is on menu for Alabama coach Nick Saban after Rose Bowl loss to Michigan
- Rob Lowe explains trash-talking in 'The Floor' TV trivia game, losing 'Footloose' role
- What 2024's leap year status means
Recommendation
-
Darren Criss on why playing a robot in 'Maybe Happy Ending' makes him want to cry
-
New Mexico regulators revoke the licenses of 2 marijuana grow operations and levies $2M in fines
-
Horoscopes Today, January 2, 2024
-
Sister of North Korean leader derides South Korea’s president but praises his predecessor
-
Deion Sanders says he would prevent Shedeur Sanders from going to wrong team in NFL draft
-
Ex-NBA G League player, former girlfriend to face charges together in woman's killing in Vegas
-
Hong Kong prosecutors allege democracy publisher Jimmy Lai urged protests, sanctions against China
-
Red Sea tensions spell trouble for global supply chains