Jake Paul’s next opponent set for March 2 return

Jake Paul has his opponent set for his March 2 return, because the social media star will face membership fighter Ryan Bourland in Puerto Rico.

Paul vs Borland will function the night’s chief help bout underneath Amanda Serrano’s principal occasion, a unified featherweight title protection in opposition to Nina Meinke.

Bourland, who’s 35, suits the final invoice for Jake Paul opposition decisions. He’s slightly small primarily based on the truth that he’s often fought at or round 175 lbs, and on paper he presents no actual menace, identical as Andre August in Paul’s final bout on Dec. 15 in Florida.

Bourland has a 17-2 (6 KO) professional report, however he’s by no means fought above a small membership stage. He’s additionally fought simply as soon as since 2018, and that was in Sept. 2022.

In some methods, sure, it’s the kind of opponent a novice like Paul (8-1, 5 KO) needs to be preventing, however the quantity of consideration Paul receives is out-sized in comparison with a regular “prospect vs some man” matchup, and that can result in the inevitable criticism. And it must also be stated, so we’re saying it, and simply as a reality, that hyping Bourland as a harmful opponent or somebody to have a good time beating is smoke and mirrors promotional stuff.

“The aim is straightforward, construct the skillset to grow to be world champion,” Paul stated on social media. “Subsequent up is a man who has twice as {many professional} fights underneath his belt than I do: Ryan ‘The Rhino’ Bourland. And identical to the animal in his bone chilling nickname, he’s additionally endangered.”