Hasim Rahman Jr claims that Jake Paul "botted" followers on his behalf to help push their August 6 fight due to his lack of name value.
The 12-1 heavyweight is a massive step up in competition for Paul, who has never fought anybody who had boxed professionally before signing to fight him. But he had just around 5,000 followers on Instagram before their bout was announced last week when Tommy Fury pulled out of their scheduled bout.
Rahman Jr took the fight at short notice, having previously sparred with Paul while he was slowly but surely building his professional career. He will make a career-high payday, but insists he is still the YouTube star's lowest-paid opponent since he debuted in early 2020.
The boxer had been accused of buying fake followers after his bout with Paul was announced, with his Instagram ticking from around 5,000 to over 250,000 overnight. But he claims that it was the social media star who made that happen, and denied Paul's insistence that he asked for more money after signing the event-saving deal for their Madison Square Garden fight.
"I didn't ask you for nothing," Rahman Jr told Paul at a press conference in New York today. "What are you talking about? I didn't ask you for more money, I never asked for more money.
"I took the lowest amount at the highest level. I'm the highest level opponent you've faced, but I'm getting the lowest amount of anybody that you have fought."
When Paul joked about his meagre following prior to signing the fight, Rahman Jr claimed that it was his rival who had bought him followers to help legitimise him as an opponent. The Baltimore native had been focusing more on fighting than building a social media presence during his early career, but has now shot to fame as the man who may stop Jake Paul.
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"Why did you buy me followers then?" Rahman Jr asked Paul after his taunt. "Why did you bot me followers? Boxing doesn't have anything to do with followers."
Paul joked that his mother, Pam Stepnick, has more followers than Rahman Jr, and insisted that he and his name will be forgotten about once the fight is over. The name Hasim Rahman is one of the most respected in the sport after his dad became heavyweight champion twice in the early 2000s, and this jab appeared to hurt the 31-year-old heavyweight.
"You're crazy," he replied. "Rahman is going to be in boxing forever, you're wild. Rahman is going to stay in boxing forever. Jake you're about to get knocked out. Are you listening to me, Jake? I'm not feeding into this BS."
