Jake Paul has admitted that Hasim Rahman Jr came out on top in their sparring session two years ago but insists it doesn't matter heading into their fight next month.
The heavyweight, who is the son of former world champion Hasim Rahman, fights Paul at Madison Square Garden on August 6. Rahman knows Paul from when the two sparred before the YouTube star's second fight against Nate Robinson in November 2020. Paul admitted the spar was close but that Rahman - who had a record of 9-0 at the time - got the better of him.
"It was close, it was a war," Paul said of the spar on The MMA Hour. "That was right when I started fighting, before the Nate Robinson fight. He was way more experienced than I was at the time, so if anything he got the better of me, but it doesn't matter to admit that because I know what I'm capable of now and I know i'm going to be able to come in and beat him.
"Over the past two years we'll see who became the better fighter. He was saying 'you'll never be a professional fighter', all of my critics [say that] and it's great motivation for me. I use it against them and it fuels me in the gym. Now two years later, we will actually get to see who the professional fighter is."
Paul said that he hasn't spoken to Rahman since tempers boiled over at the end of their sparring session in 2020. The YouTube star admitted the fight is in jeopardy after Rahman, who replaced Tommy Fury on a month's notice, is demanding more money despite having already signed a contract for the bout.
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"Hasim Rahman Jr is trying to renegotiate his contract," Paul continued. "He signed a contract last week for ten times more than he's ever been paid for any of his fights and now, boom, fast-forward one week and he's trying to suck more money out of the fight. I think he realises the consequences of what might happen.
"I think he's scared to fight me. A lot of these guys are excited by the money at first and then when it actually comes time to get in camp and get training, they chicken out. Who knows if this fight is even going to happen at this point because we're not going to pay him any more money."
