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Content creator turned KO artist Jake Paul will be returning to the ring April 17 as the featured attraction of Snoop Dogg’s newly launched Fight Club on Triller pay-per-view.
The location for the show and main event opponent for Paul will be named in the coming weeks. Instead of the foe being a celebrity like it was for Paul’s first two professional boxing matches, the 24-year-old will actually be facing a professional boxer, Triller owner Ryan Kavanaugh told BoxingScene.com.
The event will feature three undercard bouts, several musical performances and special commentators. The TikTok rival’s show format will mirror closely to that of the Mike Tyson versus Roy Jones Jr. exhibition match that took place in November.
Days after serving as a commentator for that event, rapper and entertainer Snoop Dogg announced his foray into boxing with Fight Club through a partnership with Kavanaugh.
The Tyson versus Jones co-featured attraction showcased Paul (2-0, 2 KOs) scoring a devastating second-round knockout of three-time NBA Slam Dunk champion Nate Robinson. Previous to that, Paul had knocked out fellow YouTuber AnEsonGib on a card promoted by Matchroom Boxing last January.
Paul, who bills himself as the “future of boxing” on his Instagram, will now be squaring up against a professional boxer.
“Hate me or love me, you can’t stop me. April 10, I headline a global PPV event and I am getting my third knock-out in a row,” said Paul. “I look to prove to the world that I am and I will remain one of the biggest names in this sport. Thank you to Triller, Bobby, Ryan and Snoop for giving me the opportunity to showcase my talent to the world. Given their leadership, I know the visuals, performances, and production value on this show will be unlike anything anyone has seen. Together, we will continue to break records.”
Paul was credited for bringing his younger fan base to the Tyson versus Jones fight and helping make the event in what Triller billed as the eighth most successful PPV fight in history.
Paul will now look to prove that he can carry an entire show on his shoulders.
“Jake Paul had viewers around the globe shocked during his last fight, which led to an unforgettable KO,” said Snoop Dogg. “This fight will have fans talking for months.”
The PPV will also be paired and promoted with a docuseries on Triller to portray Paul’s training process.
“Our efforts for the Tyson vs Jones event proved that Triller is capable of hosting high-quality, culture-changing sporting events,” said Kavanaugh, a Hollywood producer of over 200 films. “Jake Paul was the breakout athlete of the night, and we listened to the more than 30 million fans that have expressed interest in watching him fight again.”
Bobby Sarnevesht, executive chairman of Triller, said: “After the success of the last event, I gave Ryan no choice but to expand his vision further. Say what you want, but Ryan gets content unlike anyone else I’ve ever met.”
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, via email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or on www.ManoukAkopyan.com