Jake Paul vs. Andre August: Fight Odds, Live Stream, Predictions

Jake Paul's next fight will feature something we haven't really seen: A bonafide boxer with very little name value.

Paul continues his foray into boxing on Friday night with a matchup against Andre August, a professional boxer with 12 fights to his name and little recognition. While Paul has made his name (and money) in combat sports by taking out former UFC champions, celebrities and a former NBA dunk champion, he'll be taking on a more serious opponent in Orlando, Florida.

Paul is still the favorite. He's shown that he's more than just a sideshow in his eight professional boxing bouts. He most recently defeated Nate Diaz via unanimous decision and took Tommy Fury to a split-decision in his only loss in the ring.

Now, he'll turn his sights to a fighter in August who is 10-1-1 in his career.

Here's a look at all the info you need to catch the fight, storylines to watch and a prediction.

When: Friday, December 15 at 7:30 p.m. ET (Main event expected around 10:30 p.m. ET

Where: Caribe Royale Orlando, Orlando, Florida

Live Stream: DAZN

Odds: Paul -750 (wager $750 to win $100); August +475 (wager $100 to win $475)

Does Andre August Offer Anything as an Opponent?

August is unlike any other opponent that Paul has seen in the ring. It doesn't necessarily mean he's better, though.

August is a 35-year-old cruiserweight who has 12 fights on his 10-1-1 record, but those opponents haven't exactly been a murderer's row. A quick perusal of his BoxRec page reveals that those 10 wins include a lot of fighters with five or fewer fights and a win over Jeremie Parks, who has a 6-25-3 record as a professional.

Paul has always been strategic in choosing his opponents. He's nothing if not a smart promoter of himself. Being able to sell August as a real opponent because of his record against questionable competition can help him build momentum toward bigger fights.

But there's always risk in combat sports that comes with underestimating an opponent and August knows how big this fight could be for him.

"(A win) does a bunch of things for me. It's really a blessing. It's really a dream come true. It does a lot, things I can't even speak on or imagine. I just could say I'm blessed," he told Simon Samano and Mike Bohn of MMA Junkie.

August has a prime opportunity in front of him to make a name for himself. The question is whether he has the tools to pull off the upset.

What Kind of Improvements Do We See from Paul?

Jake Paul has said on multiple occasions that his goal is to become a world champion. Love him or hate him, he has been persistent in his boxing ventures.

He's carefully chosen opponents that have continued to put him in the limelight and he has shown improvement. For instance, his boxing skills stood in stark contrast to Diaz's. He threw straighter, more accurate punches, had improved head movement and really controlled the distance against a smaller opponent.

You can question August's skills, but there's a boxing foundation in place. His head movement, clinching and combinations are different than a lot of the foes that Paul has seen in the ring.

It's going to give him an opportunity to show the public what he's been working on and how he matches up with a more traditional boxing style.

You can give kudos to Paul for picking a boxer-by-trade, but fighting August is still a strategic choice. August has been boxing professionally since 2013, but he only has 12 fights in that decade.

He also has a decided lack of power. He has a 50 percent knockout rate despite fighting a lot of low-level boxers. He hasn't won a fight by knockout since 2019.

That lack of power should give Paul the freedom to stay in the pocket, put on the pressure and show off his skills. Paul has shown that he has a good amount of pop in his hands, even scoring knockdowns of Anderson Silva and Tommy Fury.

This one probably doesn't get that far. August doesn't have the fastest hands and isn't a great mover in the ring.

Paul should put the pressure on early and be looking for a finish to further validate himself as a boxer.

Prediction: Paul via fourth-round knockout