UFC fighter suspended for illegal drug use hopes for "chance to fight Jake Paul"
A UFC light heavyweight fighter currently suspended for doping violations recently expressed his interest in facing Jake Paul in a boxing matchup. 'The Problem Child' is one of the most prominent and polarizing figures in crossover boxing, with virtually every other fighter eager to challenge him.
Following the postponement of the YouTuber-turned-boxer's highly anticipated clash against boxing legend Mike Tyson to Nov. 15, Paul revealed plans for a new bout against BKFC star Mike Perry. The eight-round cruiserweight fight is scheduled to take place at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, on July 20.
Paul was originally set to square off against Tyson at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on the same date for an event livestreamed on Netflix. However, 'Iron Mike' had to withdraw from the fight due to medical issues, leading to its rescheduling for November. Instead of waiting for the new date, 'The Problem Child' decided not to waste a training camp and opted to stay active by arranging a fight with Perry.
During a recent media interaction at the 2024 UFC Hall of Fame (HOF) induction event, Khalil Rountree Jr., who is currently serving a two-month suspension by the CSAD for a positive test for performance-enhancing drugs, was asked to share his thoughts on the upcoming Paul vs. Perry fight. He replied:
"I wish it was me boxing Jake Paul instead. But yeah, congrats to him [Perry], big fight and hopefully he goes in and knocks his lights out. Hopefully, one day, I get a chance to fight Jake Paul; that'd be amazing."
Check out Khalil Rountree Jr.'s comments below (4:18):
'The War Horse' was set to clash with former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill in the co-main event of UFC 303 on June 29. However, the bout was called off after Rountree Jr. admitted to inadvertently consuming a banned substance, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), last month.
The UFC light heavyweight fighter received only a two-month suspension due to his self-reporting of the incident on May 4. This means he will be eligible to compete in the octagon again after July 4.
Khalil Rountree Jr. discusses missed opportunity at UFC 303 amid doping ban
During the same interview at the HOF event, Khalil Rountree Jr. addressed his lost chance to compete on the UFC 303 card. He expressed his disappointment with the situation but acknowledged the necessity of following the proper procedures:
"I had to withdraw from the bout for accidentally ingesting a banned substance. It's tough to speak about it. I mean, I'm upset, but that doesn't do anything for me right now, so I've gotta go through the process." [0:12]