HASIM RAHMAN JR has claimed that Jake Paul could have “saved the show” with a “ready replacement” following the cancellation of their fight.
Paul was due to face Rahman at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden next weekend.
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But following a weighty disagreement between the two, the entire pay-per-view event was axed.
And Rahman has since spoken out to suggest they offered his uncle – unbeaten heavyweight Muhsin Cason – as a back-up alternative.
He said: “They knew we had a ready replacement in the side who was doing everything I had done in this whole camp.
“Muslim boxer; Muhsin Cason, who campaigns at cruising weight and wouldn’t have had to gut himself.
“He could have saved the show and Jake Paul could have fought a real boxer, but he doesn’t want to fight a real fighter, he doesn’t want to fight a real fight.
“He wanted to drain me and fight a shell of me, which I won’t allow him to do.”
Cason, 28, is the brother of Rahman’s father, who is currently 10-0 and once Paul’s training partner.
Rahman signed to fight at the 14th cruising weight limit of 4lbs 200lbs, despite having 16 stone in his last fight in April.
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And he also had to meet a strict rehydration limit when weighing in the next day.
Due to Rahman’s heavy weight reduction, the New York State Athletic Commission wanted to follow his process.
Paul said with only a week out, the NYSAC changed the fight weight to 205 pounds.
But once Rahman asked to come in at 215 pounds, the fight was quickly called off.
Paul, 25, said: “I’m devastated. I can’t f*****g believe this. We just heard this news.
They knew we had a replacement ready on the side who did everything I did this whole camp…he could have saved the show
Hasim Rahman Jr on Jake Paul
“It’s just another case of a professional boxer, just like Tommy Fury, being afraid to fight me.
“It’s as clear as day that these guys have been so unprofessional to work with, looking for an excuse to take so much money out of this event. To coerce us into doing things.
“And from the jump I knew from the bottom of my heart that these guys didn’t want to get in the ring with me, that’s as clear as day.”
But Rahman shot back: “I would have beaten that man with one hand like I did in the gym, but let him say he once beat my ass in the gym when I was 230lbs.
“So if you beat me when I was 230 pounds, what’s the problem with beating me when I’m 215 or 210 pounds?
“It’s clearly them who don’t want to fight, it’s not me who withdraws. I never said I didn’t want this fight, the only thing I can conclude is that they are afraid.
“They tried to drain me, I told them I couldn’t get down to cruising weight, it was an astronomical feat from the start.”
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