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LOS ANGELES — Tyron Woodley was one of many biggest champions in probably the greatest weight lessons within the UFC: welterweight. Now, although, the hard-hitting wrestler is popping his consideration to a brand new sport.
Woodley will meet YouTube-star-turned-boxer Jake Paul in an expert boxing match Aug. 29 in Cleveland, Ohio. It will not simply be a one-off money seize, Woodley mentioned at a information convention Tuesday to advertise the struggle. It is simply his first foray into boxing, a brand new profession path.
“This is a chance for me to dash into the boxing lane,” Woodley mentioned. “But in addition, I am making ready accordingly. I am making ready if I used to be preventing Canelo [Alvarez]. I am coaching like that proper now.”
Even earlier than the Paul alternative arose, Woodley mentioned he had mentioned being a “true free agent” together with his managers Malki and Abe Kawa of First Spherical Administration. Meaning he’d be searching for alternatives in a number of fight sports activities, together with MMA and boxing. Woodley’s UFC contract expired following his loss to Vicente Luque at UFC 260 on March 27.
Woodley, 39, mentioned Paul is his first boxing foe however won’t be his final. “The Chosen One” has been coaching in Miami with Pedro Diaz and Eric Brown and has additionally been in Las Vegas with Floyd Mayweather Jr. Woodley mentioned Mayweather’s crew has dedicated to serving to him, particularly after Mayweather and Paul had a run-in earlier than Mayweather’s struggle with Paul’s older brother, Logan.
“I am gonna be preventing actual boxers and they are going to have an issue to cope with and it is going to be me,” Woodley mentioned. “On the finish of the day, I am in boxing proper now. He is my first opponent. That is your first and everyone else’s first likelihood to look at me field.”
On Tuesday, Paul and Woodley made a wager on stage throughout the information convention. The loser must tattoo the phrases “I really like” plus the identify of the winner on his physique. Woodley mentioned he believes Paul will need to have a rematch with him after Woodley wins subsequent month. After that, Woodley mentioned he desires to struggle a boxing “OG” after which a longtime present boxer.
“He is gonna be strolling round with a ‘I really like Tyron Woodley’ tattoo on his physique, so he would possibly as nicely get it again, attempt to get an opportunity to redeem your self,” Woodley mentioned.
Woodley misplaced 4 in a row within the UFC earlier than his departure. Earlier than that, although, he was unbeaten in seven straight fights between 2014 and 2018, probably the greatest runs ever within the UFC’s 170-pound division. Woodley is a future UFC Corridor of Famer, however he mentioned recently he had not been happy together with his MMA profession.
“That is enjoyable for me,” Woodley mentioned. “MMA wasn’t enjoyable for me the final 5 years. I am loving [boxing] coaching. I am there on daily basis.”
Woodley was a two-time Division I wrestling All-American on the College of Missouri. However the Ferguson, Missouri, native mentioned he all the time considered himself as a boxer and the candy science was all the time a dream.
“I’ve all the time actually been a boxer in a wrestler’s physique,” Woodley mentioned. “That is actually been my factor the entire time. I’ve all the time wished to field. So, that is simply my likelihood to go on the market and have enjoyable, be free and simply let these fingers go.”
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