Account
Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley 2: Fight Odds, Date, Live Stream and TV Schedule
December 16, 2021
Jake Paul (4-0, 3 KOs) will fight for the fifth time as a professional boxer on Saturday night, taking on former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley (0-1) in a rematch of their high-profile bout in August.
Paul, 24, defeated the former UFC welterweight champion by split decision in their first meeting, 78-74, 77-75, 75-77. He then set his sights on taking on Tommy Fury, the half-brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
However, Fury pulled out of the pay-per-view fight with less than two weeks to go because of medical reasons that impacted his ability to train, forcing Paul to scramble to find another opponent. Woodley stepped up for an unexpected rematch.
Paul vs. Woodley 2 Fight Info
When: Saturday, Dec. 18 at 9 p.m. ET (main card)
Where: Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida
Live stream/TV: Showtime pay-per-view ($59.95)
Odds: Paul -260 (bet $260 to win $100), Woodley +210 (bet $100 to win $210)
Odds via DraftKings
In his short but lucrative boxing career, Paul has carefully plotted out a course for himself that generates interest from fans while managing risk as he sharpens his skills.
He started off taking on a fellow YouTuber in Ali Eson Gib, then knocked out former NBA point guard Nate Robinson. Next up were two MMA stars, Ben Askren and Woodley. While some might have hoped their combat sports backgrounds would allow them to end Paul's adventures in pugilism, the social-media star was able to defeat them both.
Fury was supposed to represent the next level of competition, as he's 7-0 and comes from a boxing family. He wasn't able to make the fight, unfortunately, and this development might blunt Paul's momentum a bit. A loss in a rematch of a bout that was relatively short on action would be devastating for his marketability, but Paul doesn't seem to have any doubts he'll emerge victorious on Saturday night.
Woodley, 39, is coming into this fight on short notice, but he shouldn't have any problem drumming up motivation to even the score. He convinced at least one judge he won the first fight despite not throwing many punches, and Paul has even offered him a $500,000 knockout bonus.
Woodley also knows he's powerful enough to rattle his younger opponent, having sent him careening into the ropes with a left hand in the fourth round of their first meeting. Some felt he missed a prime opportunity to win by stoppage, but Woodley said on The MMA Hour (h/t MMAFighting.com) that a sore shoulder prevented him from ending Paul's night early.
"I ain't gonna lie. I wanted to [knock him out], but my shoulder was swollen before and I was just kind of swinging on pure thug energy from MMA, not just giving a hell," said Woodley.
If an injured shoulder is all that prevented Woodley from getting a win the first time out, Paul is going to have to be extra careful in the ring Saturday night. He benefited from the fact that Woodley wasn't very active early on in the fight, and the UFC star's low, wide stance certainly didn't help him close the gap when he did throw punches.
There shouldn't be anything stopping Woodley from being more aggressive this time out. He should be more comfortable after making his pro debut in the first fight, and he knows he can hurt Paul if he can land his power punches.
Paul is the favorite because he's young, powerful and has shown some decent skill in the ring, but he can't lose focus for a second against an opponent who has nothing to lose.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or call or text the TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).
21+. NJ/PA/WV/IN/IA/CO/IL/TN only. In partnership with Meadows Racetrack & Casino. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.