Jake Paul has not been shy in his ambition to become a world champion in the ring and the Youtuber turned boxing star faced his biggest challenge yet on Friday in the United States.
Paul stepped into the ring for the ninth professional fight of his career at the Caribe Royale Orlando in Florida, where he took on 10-1 cruiserweight Andre August.
The bout marked another major step up for Paul, with the former Disney Channel star facing only his second pro-boxer opponent, after Tommy Fury back in February.
It was a test that Paul passed with flying colours, as he delivered a brutal knockout blow in the first round to beat August.
It was the latest sign that Paul is pursuing a serious future in boxing away from crossover fights where he dipped his toes into the water against fellow YouTubers and former UFC stars.
Jake Paul faces Andre August on Friday night in the biggest challenge of his boxing career
Paul has undergone a major transformation from a Disney star to a professional boxer
His latest fight came back in August when he overcame former UFC fighter Nate Diaz
Given the step up in quality of opponent, Paul has been forced to undertake gruelling camps to hone his preparations and ensure he is competitive when he steps into the ring.
Fans have been witness to Paul’s transformation from a skinny teenage internet star to a physical specimen, as he seeks to have the punching power to take him to the top.
Speaking to Mail Sport’s ‘The Hook’ podcast ahead of his showdown with August, Paul admitted his training regime is ‘intense’ as he combines gym work, sparring and work on the track to get into prime condition.
‘There are points in camp where it will be like 11 workouts in a week,’ Paul said.
‘It is intense man, track work with sprints, 800 metres, 200 metres back to back. 25 rounds in the gym sparring high level guys.
‘Strength work, benching, squatting, flipping tyres, sledgehammers, jogging five miles.
‘Everything you see in the movies is really what it is.’
Fans have been able to chart Paul’s progress on Instagram, with the star providing regular updates and photos in the build-up to fights.
Paul has admitted the demands have changed since beginning his journey in boxing in 2018 in a fight against YouTuber Deji Olatunji.
Paul revealed he completes around 11 workouts a week including ‘high-level’ sparring sessions
Flipping tyres features as part of training, which Paul says is ‘Everything you see in the movies’
Track sessions featuring sprints and middle distance runs are part of Paul’s ‘intensive’ regime
The 26-year-old revealed he had initially been able to eat whatever he wanted as he looked to pack on muscle.
The Problem Child has acknowledged that his weight has fluctuated during his boxing career.
Paul weighed in for his debut fight at 191.7 pounds, but the 6 foot 1 inch cruiserweight was down to 183.6lb for his fight against Fury earlier this year.
He tipped the scales at his highest weight yet, as he weighed in at 199.4lbs for his showdown against August.
Paul has been able to count on the support of his nutritionists to help him prepare for fights, as he manages the vast calorie output from the training regime which also includes ‘thousands of push-ups, abs every day and neck exercises’.
‘I am really enjoying it,’ Paul said.
‘I am eating super clean and the nutritionists really count my calorie output and intake on a day to day basis.
‘In the beginning of the boxing journey we weren’t cutting weight. I could eat whatever I wanted, which was nice and it definitely made things easier.
‘We are now at a point where we are figuring out certain weights for each fight.
The American admits his weight has fluctuated during his professional boxing career
Paul tipped the scales at 199.4lbs for his fight with August, his heaviest weight in his career
The American is supported by a team of nutritionists to help him meet the demands of training
‘Nate Diaz was 185lbs, this fight 200lbs, so definitely fluctuating within that range.’
Paul had previously claimed that he has ‘cut out all the bad stuff’ from his diet, with chicken and vegetables a staple as he looks to get into peak physical condition.
He revealed the fuel required each day will differ from day to day in camp, with several factors taken into account to determine what intake he needs.
‘It sort of depends if we are cutting weight or just a normal day in camp,’ Paul said.
‘Each day is different if there are one or two workouts.
‘It depends what day it is and the gameplan is.
‘This morning for example was just oatmeal, three eggs and a nice coffee.’
Paul’s sacrifices appear to have paid off with his victory over August, which saw the American improve to an 8-1 boxing record.
The victory takes Paul a step closer to being viewed as a genuine professional boxer with ambitions to reach the top, while the prospect of a lucrative crossover against UFC legend Conor McGregor still looms large.
