YouTuber defeats ex-UFC champ in boxing match

Jake Paul (left) takes Tyron Woodley’s punch (cbssports.com)

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

YouTube sensation Jake Paul is slowly earning his name in professional boxing after edging ex-UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley via a split decision ruling.

Two judges favored the crowd-favorite online celebrity, 77-75 and 78-74, while the last judge had it for Woodley with a 77-75 score.

The eight-rounder slugfest didn’t miss out on any action as Paul surprised everyone in attendance with his improved speed and jab combinations.

Paul was the busier fighter in the first three rounds and was able to land clean one-two jab combinations against the stagnant offense of Woodley.

However, soon as the fourth round began, Woodley suddenly flipped the switch and rocked Paul with a heavy right hand that completely changed the atmosphere of the fight.

In the next two rounds, Woodley’s confidence began to rise and just hounded the backpedaling Paul the whole rounds.

Just when everyone thought that Woodley had the grip and control of the match, Paul began to strike back and piled up some points off his clean straight punches to stay within striking distance and eventually pulled away in the last round after staying consistent with his volume of punches.

However, the ex-UFC champ thought he won the fight and demanded an instant rematch against Paul.

“Off the top I want an instant rematch. Nobody is going to sell the pay-per-view like we did. Of course I want a rematch,” Woodley said.