Jake Paul’s opponent in his next boxing match will be Andre August (10-1 as a pro boxer), officials told ESPN on Wednesday.
The YouTuber-turned-prizefighter will face August on Dec. 15 in Orlando, Florida. The bout will be contested at cruiserweight (200 pounds) and is contracted for eight rounds.
This represents a shift in strategies for Paul, who in his boxing career has faced primarily older MMA fighters who have made a name for themselves in the UFC.
While this fight doesn’t have the big-name value of previous ones, Paul’s critics have wanted him to fight legitimate boxers — and August, by far Paul’s most experienced opponent in boxing, is representative of that.
The card will stream on DAZN and is not a pay-per-view event.
Paul (7-1, 4 KOs) is coming off a unanimous decision win over former UFC star Nate Diaz in August. Before that, the Ohio native who lives and trains in Puerto Rico, felt his first career defeat, against Tommy Fury.
Paul, 26, also owns boxing victories over former UFC champions Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley (two).