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'Didn't sell enough tickets': Jake Paul trolled after canceling Hasim Rahman Jr fight 'over 10 pounds'

Paul, 25, was set to face Rahman, 31, in the main card on Showtime PPV at Madison Square Garden on August 6.

YouTuber-turned boxer Jake Paul was slammed after his fight promotions company canceled his hotly-anticipated bout against Hasim Rahman Jr. over weight issues. Paul, 25, was set to face Rahman, 31, in the main card on Showtime PPV at Madison Square Garden on August 6. However, the card, which also featured female star Amanda Serrano as the co-main event, was called off entirely.

“MVP and Jake Paul will not reward someone that has conducted themselves in such a deceiving and calculated manner,” Paul’s promotional company, Most Valuable Promotions said in a statement Saturday night, July 30. “Therefore, MVP is left with no choice but to cancel the event. This forced outcome impacts Jake Paul, Amanda Serrano, and every other fighter on this card who has trained tirelessly over the past few months for this event. The boxing community must hold Hasim Rahman Jr. liable for his lack of professionalism."

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Both camps were going back and forth over Rahman's weight since the bout was announced to take place at the 200-pound cruiserweight limit. Rahman (12-1) had taken the fight on short notice, but was subject to weekly tests to ensure he would lose weight in time. The contract also featured a rehydration clause, limiting how much weight the boxer could gain after the official weigh-in and before he entered the ring. Paul insisted the protocols were necessary as he was taking on a much bigger fighter, who is also the son of former heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman. “On Friday, Rahman submitted a weight check to the New York State Athletic Commission that demonstrated that he had lost less than one pound since originally signing to take the fight 24 days prior,” the statement by MVP continued. “This prompted the Commission to declare that it would not sanction the fight at less than 205 pounds."

Paul was reportedly prepared to fight Rahman at the new weight and a new contract was sent to the latter's promoter with a 205-pound limit, including strict penalties if he failed to make weight. “Upon receiving this new contract Saturday morning, Rahman’s camp indicated for the very first time that he planned to weigh 215 pounds at the official weigh-in and would not agree to weigh in at 205 pounds and informing Most Valuable Promotions that they are pulling out of the fight unless the fight was agreed to at 215 pounds," the statement added. Paul shared the statement with his own comment, "First Tommy Fumbled, and now Hasim Rahman Crumbled. These boxers are the most difficult people to work with and continually lack professionalism and confidence to fight me. I apologize to all of the other fighters on the card, our partners, our team, and the fans."

Rahman shot back in a tweet. "Time gonna expose this boy trust me," he wrote of Paul, adding a laughing emoticon.

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The highly-publicized bout would have been Paul's first match-up against a professional boxer since he embarked on his new fighting career. At the moment, he boasts a perfect 5-0 record having beaten UFC contenders, ex-NBA players, and other social media influencers, but the bout with Rahman would have largely legitimized his place in the sport. Paul was excoriated on social media, with many speculating the reasons behind his pullout.

"You scared over 10 pounds…? Did you not out-weigh all of your opponents by 10+ pounds…? Smh. Keep the f***ing fight since you’re so good," one Twitter user wrote.

"I think the more likely scenario is Jake is scared to fight someone who isn’t shorter, lighter, retired, and/or not a boxer… he did the math and saw how much a loss would derail his circus fight career," USAF veteran Luke Negron added.

"This is a perfect example that you only care about fighter pay as long as you benefit in some fashion. If you truly cared about fighter pay, you make this fight happen. You screw over every other fighter on the card by pulling out," a comment read.

"I’m calling BS. 1) Rahman didn’t accept money to take a dive. 2) You were trying to make him get down to an impossible weight because you knew you made a mistake picking him and couldn’t beat him. 3) The event didn’t sell enough tickets. Which one is it Jakey?" another chimed in.

"Just say you didn’t sell enough PPV or tickets for your event it isn’t that hard, you need Ksi," someone else quipped.