Coming into the big Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley fight tonight (Sun., Aug. 29, 2021) inside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio, a lot has been made about the experience difference between Paul and Woodley. Paul is still very much in the nascent portion of his boxing career, while Woodley is a battle tested former champion, albeit in a different sport.
Less discussed, but perhaps even more key, is the size difference between the two fighters. Paul is four inches taller than Woodley and cut down to 190 pounds for their showdown this evening. Woodley has competed throughout his mixed martial arts (MMA) career at 170 pounds, and hit that mark on March 27, 2021, for his final UFC fight against Vicente Luque.
While Woodley officially weighed in at 189.5 pounds for the Paul fight, that just means less of a cut. It doesn’t erase the realities of the size difference between the two of them that was very visible during their final staredown (watch it here).
But, Woodley doesn’t believe any of that is going to be an issue.
“I mean, look at how f—king ripped up I am,” Woodley said following his open workout on Wednesday. “I’m like weigh-in weight the way I look. Man, I was 205 normally. Right now, I’m in the 190s. So, for me, it’s like I’ve been killing myself to make 170 all these years in quiet.”
Woodley made it clear that all this size difference talk is an exaggeration, one that he did nothing to correct until fight week lest his opponent chicken out of their fight.
“Very much so [it’s an exaggeration],” Woodley said. “But, I waited till this week, so he couldn’t bitch out. The no bitch-out clause.”
We’ve already witnessed one Paul brother ride his considerable size advantage to a better-than-expected performance when Logan Paul survived eight rounds with boxing legend Floyd Mayweather. In that one, Logan weighed in at 189.5, while Floyd was 155 pounds.
There’s less of a split between Jake and Tyron, but that size difference isn’t to be ignored when wondering how Jake Paul will be able to handle Tyron Woodley’s power, or who will be able to bully who in the ring. Just another element that makes this whole sideshow attraction interesting.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE coverage of tonight’s main card right here. The $59.99 Showtime/FITE PPV kicks off at 8 p.m. ET, with Paul and Woodley likely to make the walk closer to 11:30 p.m. ET. For the complete Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley fight card click here. For more news and notes on their upcoming grudge match click here.