JAKE PAUL is about the inverse of Katie Taylor in every way – so that makes them being so associated all the more bizarre.
The soft-spoken, all business KT will be co-headlining the bombastic Paul’s upcoming card on July 20 in Dallas, Texas.
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As well as being in charge of promotional duties for the innovative card, Paul will be throwing down with ring icon Mike Tyson.
It will be streamed on Netflix as opposed to following the conventional boxing model of being a pay-per-view event.
Whatever quibbles you might have with the sporting merits of such a match-up taking top billing ahead of Taylor-Serrano II, it will no doubt attract monstrous viewing figures since it is opening up the sport to such an expanded audience.
And the 27-year-old’s marketing style is effective if nutty.
He revealed the grand plan for Taylor and her Puerto Rican rival, who is managed by Paul’s MVP Promotions, to add to July’s showpiece in unique style.
Referencing his equally ubiquitous brother’s baby announcement, he gently pushed a pram back and forth before unveiling a photo of the two legendary combatants.
From there he proclaimed ‘this event just got bigger!’
The pair fought in April 2022 at Madison Square Garden with Taylor taking a tight decision after ten two-minute rounds.
New York-based Serrano tried to persuade her foe to fight her over 12 three-minute rounds on this occasion, having fought over that distance in her last outing.
But the champ opted not to, with Serrano saying: “I promised my fans they would see this rematch after we made history at MSG.
“It feels like a dream come true to know that Katie and I are finally making it happen on the biggest stage possible to show the world what elite women’s boxing is all about.
“While my focus continues to be on giving women the choice to fight with the same rules as men, I’ve always said that this is the one fight I’d go back to 10×2 for if that’s what Katie wanted.
“I’m coming for her belts, she wants 10×2, so that’s what we will do.
“I believe I won our first fight, but I didn’t get the decision, so this time I’m not leaving it to the judges.
“I am honoured to share this iconic MVP card in the biggest stadium, on the biggest streaming platform in the world.”
Taylor will not be the first Irishwoman to fight on the same card as Tyson either.
Drogheda’s Deirdre Gogarty took on Christy Martin before ‘Iron Mike’ dismantled Frank Bruno in Las Vegas in 1996.
Tyson, who will be 58 by fight night, has not had a real fight since being taken out by Clones Colossus Kevin McBride in 2005.
