By the time Tyron Woodley showed up to the post-fight news conference following his knockout loss to Jake Paul on Saturday night, he’d already seen the finish and couldn’t believe what he did.
“I went back, and I looked at it, and I’m like, ‘Why the f*ck did I drop my hand?’” Woodley said. “I had both hands up. I knew it was coming. I was ready to block the overhand. I don’t know if he delayed it – even if he didn’t delay it, I don’t know why I dropped my hand. In this sport, it only takes one mistake.”
That mistake cost the former UFC welterweight champion dearly in the sixth round of their boxing rematch at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. Up until then, Woodley and Paul fought a close fight that resembled the split decision Paul won back in August, with little offense coming from both sides.
But Paul delivered the boom at the 2:12 mark, faking like he was going to the body before landing a vicious overhand right that put Woodley to sleep and sent his body crashing to the mat face first.
“I might be a lumberjack, because he went timber,” Paul said.
The brutal knockout was an utterly disappointing finish for Woodley, who’d campaigned hard for a rematch every since losing the first fight. Paul had moved on, though, and was set to fight Tommy Fury on Saturday until Fury pulled out two weeks ago.
That opened the door for Woodley, who talked a big game and vowed to finish Paul in the rematch.
Even though the complete opposite transpired, 39-year-old Woodley wasn’t down on himself and certainly wasn’t looking for anyone to feel sorry for him.
“I’m not done. Please don’t look at me with sorrowed eyes. Please do not look at me shaking your head,” Woodley said. “I done f*cked a lot of people up. … At some point, we’re gonna have to start putting a little respect on Jake’s name.
“I never really disrespected him as a power puncher. That’s something we always knew. That’s why my defense was so tight. Had he dropped his hand on me, same sh*t would’ve happened. I can’t cry over spilled milk. I’m blessed to be here. I’m blessed for the opportunity to come out here and fight again to show you guys that I’m f*cking still here.”
Tyron Woodley wants no pity after vicious KO loss to Jake Paul: ‘I done f*cked a lot of people up’