Very few can believe Jake Paul is here. The 24-year-old began as a YouTuber and fought in an exhibition boxing match predominantly as an attention- and money-grab. Fast forward more than a year and three fights later, and he's set to take on Tyron Woodley, a former UFC welterweight champion, for his fourth bout.
Sure, these experimental matchups can be more pomp than promise. But this fight is relevant enough that betting odds and predictions for Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley are of extreme interest to sports fans and gamblers.
And with that in mind, here are the latest Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley betting odds, courtesy of BetOnline:
Since there are still a couple of weeks to go before the big fight, make sure you're confirming these boxing odds before committing to a wager. These Jake Paul-Tyron Woodley betting lines will move at BetOnline and other top online sportsbooks before the opening bell.
Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley Betting Breakdown
- Date: Sunday, August 29
- Where: Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio
- Pay-Per-View Start Time: 8 p.m. EST
- Estimated Paul vs. Woodley Start Time: 12 a.m. EST
- Where to Watch: Showtime/Pay-Per-View
- Cost to Watch: $59.99
The Case for Jake Paul
Some still consider Jake Paul a caricature in the boxing sport, but there's no denying his overall resume. He has won three separate fights, dispatching fellow YouTuber AnEsonGib, former NBA player Nate Robinson and another UFC fighter in Ben Askren. What's more, all three of those victories have come by knockout, so he's not getting out of these matches via the skin of his teeth.
Through this stretch of high-profile matches, Paul has impressed even the most ardent skeptics with his natural athleticism. His lateral footwork is quick and deliberate, and he has proven to be surgical and lightning fast with both his left and right hands.
For someone without years of training, the precision he shows on his locations verges on revelatory. His knockouts have come because he recognizes openings and vulnerabilities in real-time, which is not an easy thing to do. His victory over Ben Askren, in particular, served as a "Take me seriously" win. This wasn't some fly-by-night fighter he knocked out. It was a mixed martial arts veteran.
Paul's experience is now also a patent advantage. Tyron Woodley does not have a bunch of official boxing matches under his belt. He is making the transition from the octagon to the ring for the first time. His background obviously helps and should speak for itself, but Paul knows more about implementing boxing mechanics by this point.
The Case for Tyron Woodley
Without question, Woodley poses the toughest challenge yet for Paul. While the latter has already TKO'd one UFC fighter, Woodley is a different beast altogether. He has racked up 19 official victories in the octagon, seven of which have come by knockout.
Woodley has also showcased more power in an arsenal compared to Askren. He isn't the most quick-twitch fighter, but he's going to land nearly half of his punches, and almost all of his combinations come on the heels of long wind-up motions that increase the force with which he can hit.
Paul has never squared off with this talented of a striker. Complicating matters further, Woodley was among the shiftiest defenders during his UFC days. For his career, he has evaded nearly 55 percent of all his opponent punch attempts.
And if that doesn't sway you, the fact that Woodley's UFC foes are typically much stronger than Paul should. The latter is not a career boxer and doesn't yet have the body or raw explosion of one.
Prediction for Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley
Oddsmakers have billed Jake Paul as a fairly decisive favorite over Tyron Woodley. This says a great deal about the lengths Paul has traveled as a boxer, as well as how difficult it can be for UFC fighters to make the transition into the ring.
In this case specifically, we have to agree with the oddsmakers.
Woodley is no doubt the most talented opponent Paul has ever faced, and he's been training with Floyd Mayweather himself. But he's also 39 and well past his prime. He lost his past four UFC matches in mostly lackluster fashion and is no longer with the company. Paul isn't squaring off versus the best version of Woodley, and even if he was, he still has more reps under his belt inside the ring.
We also admire the ability Paul has shown to navigate tight spots. Though his first three boxing victories have come by knockouts, he's exhibited the strength and stamina necessary to withstand tough blows. Woodley should get his share of licks in, but Paul isn't some fragile flash in the pan who can be dispatched with one mediocre combination.
As far as we're concerned, this is Jake Paul's fight to lose.
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