YouTube personality-boxer Jake Paul: ‘I’m faster, I’m bigger, I’m stronger’ than Tyron Woodley as Cleveland fight looms

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The upcoming bout between Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley will have a decidedly Cleveland flair to it.

The two were formally introduced Thursday before their scheduled eight-round cruiserweight main event at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Sunday, Aug. 29.

Paul is from Westlake and grew up going to Cleveland to watch the Indians, Browns and Cavs. On the undercard, Charles Conwell, who went to Cleveland Heights High School and was a 2016 Olympian, will fight, as will fellow Clevelander Montana Love.

But the loudest cheer from attendees Thursday was for Stipe Miocic, Northeast Ohio’s favorite son and former UFC champion, who took the stage and spoke about the emotion of fighting before hometown fans.

Stipe Miocic showed up at Thursday’s press conference announcing the Jake Paul-Tyron Woodley fight. Ahmaad Crump served as the emcee announcing the fighters.

“It’s surreal, it’s a dream, the intensity,” he said. And when asked what’s so special about Cleveland he had a quick answer:

“What’s so special? The people. … Good or bad, they’re always behind you,” Miocic said.

Paul, the YouTube celebrity who is undefeated in three bouts, also described the idea of fighting in his hometown as “surreal” and “magical.”

“This is where it all started for me,” he said. “I feel like I’m living a dream.”

Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley square off at Thursday’s press conference.

Paul poor-mouthed a bit, saying, “Millions of people want to see Jake Paul lose, KO’d on the canvas,” he said. But he stood firm in his confidence, predicting a knockout: “I’m more prepared than ever, I’m in the best shape of my life.”

Afterward, when asked what technical skills put him ahead of Woodley, a former UFC champion, he was quick with an answer.

“I would say everything,” he said. “He’s been boxing longer than me, but I’m naturally more talented. I’m faster, I’m bigger, I’m stronger, I’m more precise. I have a better coaching staff, which is probably the biggest key thing here. Boxing is a sweet science. … We’re able to pick apart our opponents.”

The genesis of the fight actually goes back to Paul’s bout with Ben Askren in April. In the locker room before the fight, Paul approached Woodley, who was in Askren’s corner for the fight, and said: “I just told him ‘I’m about to knock your boy out in one round.’ We went back and forth … That’s really where the narrative and the beef started. I knock out his best friend, Ben Askren, and boom, the fight is right there.”

Charles Conwell, left, and Jake Paul will be fighting opponents in Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Conwell went to Cleveland Heights High School. Paul is from Westlake.

Paul scored a first-round technical knockout against Askren.

His underlying motive runs deeper than just bravado and superlatives. Paul said he hopes “to change the sport of boxing forever.”

“Boxing needed a new flair,” he said. “I think it’s the best sport in the world, and I want to show that to the young kids out there who maybe previously liked the NFL or NBA. I want to get as many boxing gloves into the hands of kids as possible. … Boxing helped me find purpose.”

The hype began before Thursday’s press conference, with the fighters agreeing on a tattoo wager: Loser reportedly will have “I love (their opponent’s name)” inked some place on their body.

Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley’s fight is set for Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

On the undercard, Love will take on Ivan Baranchyk in a super lightweight contest, and Conwell will face Mark DeLuca in a super welterweight bout. Also, WBC/WBO Featherweight World Champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano and super bantamweight world champion Yamileth Mercado will square off.

Tickets go on sale Thursday, July 22, for the Showtime pay-per-view fight. For tickets, go to RocketMortgageFieldHouse.com.

Paul knows he has a challenge on his hands, calling Woodley a “legitimate striker.”

“This is a challenge for me,” he said. “This is not an easy guy. I want to continue to challenge myself. I don’t want to just fight bums. I don’t want to pad my record. I want to take on tough opponents. High risk, high reward.”

The Jake Paul-Tyron Woodley fight is slated for Sunday, Aug. 29.

Related coverage: Tickets for Jake Paul-Tyron Woodley fight in Cleveland go on sale soon

I am on cleveland.com’s life and culture team and cover food, beer, wine and sports-related topics. If you want to see my stories, here’s a directory on cleveland.com. Bill Wills of WTAM-1100 and I talk food and drink usually at 8:20 a.m. Thursday morning. And tune in at 7:05 a.m. Wednesdays for “Beer with Bona and Much, Much More” with Munch Bishop on 1350-AM The Gambler. Twitter: @mbona30.

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