Jake Paul has found a new opponent to step into the ring with on July 20 after Mike Tyson was forced to pull out of their proposed bout this summer.

Tyson, who turns 58 later this month, was initially set to meet Paul, 27, in a controversial fight that had divided opinion because of the significant age gap between the two men. However, earlier this month ‘Iron Mike’ officially withdrew from the July 20 event after suffering a health scare on a recent flight from Miami to Los Angeles. The former undisputed heavyweight champion required medical attention after an ulcer flare-up left him nauseous and dizzy, with paramedics eventually boarding the plane to treat him after it had touched down in LA.

As a result, Tyson has been forced to delay his showdown with the YouTuber-turned-fighter until November 15, when he hopes to be fit enough to compete professionally again for the first time in almost two decades. Paul still intends to fight this summer, meaning he has been searching for a replacement opponent in the weeks following Tyson’s pullout. And on Tuesday it was finally confirmed that MMA star Mike Perry will step in for the boxing legend on July 20.

Reports emerged last week claiming Perry, now a bare-knuckle boxing champion after leaving the UFC, had been chosen as Tyson’s replacement for the live Netflix event. Seven days later the 32-year-old’s clash with Paul has been made official, and he is confident of causing an upset.

“Jake Paul claims he fears no man, but on Saturday, July 20, the world will see the truth: he just made the worst mistake of his life in trying to get through me before Iron Mike,” Perry said. “I’m going to make it look easy on Saturday, July 20, and I’m going to teach Jake Paul the most he’s ever learned about fighting.”

Paul is well aware of the risk in killing time ahead of his fight against Tyson by facing Perry, who has earned three of his five bare-knuckle victories by knockout. In MMA, the Michigan-born fighter prevailed in 14 of his 22 contests, with 11 of those wins coming inside the distance.

“When Paul vs. Tyson was rescheduled, I knew immediately that I wanted to still fight on Saturday, July 20. Now, as I prepare for my fight against Iron Mike, there’s no better opponent for me than Mike Perry,” Paul admitted. “He’s a proven knockout artist who has shown to be a maniac in and out of the ring. This is the perfect experience for me to gain in advance of facing Mike Tyson. But getting that experience comes with risk.

“Those who know me know I’m a risk taker and while ‘Platinum’ Perry might try to end me, I’m Titanium Jake Paul and I fear no man. I’m going to get the W and give everyone a preview of what I’m bringing to the ring against Mike Tyson. Tune in on DAZN PPV as I return to Tampa and send ‘Platinum’ Perry the Platypus back to bare knuckle for good.”

Amanda Serrano, the unified women’s featherweight champion who fights under Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions banner, also has a new fight lined up for July 20 after her highly-anticipated rematch with Katie Taylor was moved to the November 15 date. Serrano will instead face Tampa’s Stevie ‘Sledgehammer’ Morgan in the co-main event at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

“I’ve already been preparing for a fight on Saturday, July 20, and even though I’ll now be waiting a little longer for my rematch with Katie Taylor, this is an opportunity for me to face another tough boxer in Stevie Morgan in Tampa,” Serrano said. “My opponent has 13 KOs, more than almost every other active female boxer, but I fear no woman – I embrace the war.

“I look forward to seeing all my Puerto Rican fans in Tampa for my 50th professional fight to show the world my skills at super lightweight, live on DAZN PPV.”