Does Andre August Offer Anything as an Opponent?
August is unlike any other opponent that Paul has seen in the ring. It doesn't necessarily mean he's better, though.
August is a 35-year-old cruiserweight who has 12 fights on his 10-1-1 record, but those opponents haven't exactly been a murderer's row. A quick perusal of his BoxRec page reveals that those 10 wins include a lot of fighters with five or fewer fights and a win over Jeremie Parks, who has a 6-25-3 record as a professional.
Paul has always been strategic in choosing his opponents. He's nothing if not a smart promoter of himself. Being able to sell August as a real opponent because of his record against questionable competition can help him build momentum toward bigger fights.
But there's always risk in combat sports that comes with underestimating an opponent and August knows how big this fight could be for him.
"(A win) does a bunch of things for me. It's really a blessing. It's really a dream come true. It does a lot, things I can't even speak on or imagine. I just could say I'm blessed," he told Simon Samano and Mike Bohn of MMA Junkie.
August has a prime opportunity in front of him to make a name for himself. The question is whether he has the tools to pull off the upset.
What Kind of Improvements Do We See from Paul?
Jake Paul has said on multiple occasions that his goal is to become a world champion. Love him or hate him, he has been persistent in his boxing ventures.
He's carefully chosen opponents that have continued to put him in the limelight and he has shown improvement. For instance, his boxing skills stood in stark contrast to Diaz's. He threw straighter, more accurate punches, had improved head movement and really controlled the distance against a smaller opponent.
You can question August's skills, but there's a boxing foundation in place. His head movement, clinching and combinations are different than a lot of the foes that Paul has seen in the ring.
It's going to give him an opportunity to show the public what he's been working on and how he matches up with a more traditional boxing style.
