JAKE PAUL’S next opponent was forced into a major career change before making a boxing comeback for the fight of his life.
The YouTuber-turned boxer returns on March 2 on the undercard of Amanda Serrano’s Puerto Rico homecoming.
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And he will do so against his most experienced opponent yet in Ryan Bourland, who holds a record of 17-2.
Bourland is a former amateur champion but in 2018 he hung up his gloves and worked on the oil rigs.
He said: “Boxing is not easy.
“Taking punches isn’t the most fun thing to do, and I’ve been doing it for a long time, but I’m not making that much money.
“I haven’t had health insurance for a while.”
On working on the oil rigs, Bourland said: “It’s dangerous and hard work, but boxing is dangerous and is really hard work.
“After they saw my resume, I got a couple of calls, and they told me ‘You are exactly what we are looking for.’
“My dad told me, ‘You’re crazy. You know how cold it is up there?’
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“So I went out and bought a bunch of thermals and stuff like that, so hopefully I will be prepared.
“I got a call about fighting for a belt in Las Vegas, but it’s only for about $10,000.
“By the time I pay my team and train for two months, it’s not that much.”
Bourland did make a return in 2022 and defeated Santario Martin, his third win on the spin.
Paul, 27, meanwhile suffered his first defeat last year, losing a split-decision to Tommy Fury, 24, in Saudi Arabia.
He bounced back six months later to beat ex-UFC star Nate Diaz, 38, on points over ten rounds.
But in his next fight, Paul announced plans to take a more traditional boxing approach to face more seasoned but less-known opposition.
That started in December when he took on 10-1-1 boxer Andre August, 35, who he knocked out in the first round.
Now Bourland, 35, will be the next man in line to face Paul, who has been insistent on one day challenging for a world title.
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