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Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff Writer
Jake Paul’s critics wanted him to fight actual boxers. He’s now knocked out two of them in a row inside the first round.
The YouTuber-turned-prizefighter stopped Ryan Bourland via TKO at 2:37 of the first Saturday in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Paul used a nice jab early and hard right hands to the body. That set up a big combination that hurt Bourland against the ropes. Paul then poured it on until referee Luis Pabon stopped the bout.
Paul, who lives and trains in Puerto Rico, had the crowd with him. His adopted nickname is “El Gallo de Dorado” and he walked out in a rooster outfit. The fans were chanting “Gallo!” during the entrance and the first round.
“I wanted it to be a little longer to give the fans some more time,” Paul said in his postfight interview. “I’m just so happy to be in Puerto Rico. Y’all show mad love.”
Paul was coming off a first-round knockout of Andre August, a similar, yet less experienced journeyman opponent to Bourland, in December. Paul outlanded Bourland, 24-3.
“I guess we just gotta step it up even way more,” Paul said. “I’m ready for the big leagues. I’m getting sharp. This is my life now.”
When asked who he wanted to fight next, Paul said he didn’t want to mention any names. But he did propose one: Canelo Alvarez.
After the fight, it was announced that the main event between WBO, IBF and WBA featherweight champion Amanda Serrano and Nina Meinke was canceled due to an eye injury suffered by Serrano 36 hour before the fight.
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Source: www.espn.com