After securing a significant victory against “Platinum” Mike Perry at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, Jake Paul celebrated his triumph. However, not all was smooth sailing for one of his promising prospects from Most Valuable Promotions.
Paul has been pushing Ashton “H2O” Sylve hard for the last two years, booking the slick 20 year old on MVP undercards for his last five fights. Sylve won the first four, then was on his way to winning the fifth on Saturday against Lucas Bahdi … then things went horribly wrong in the sixth round.
Throughout the fight with Sylve, Bahdi was continuously being dissected, but he persevered and maintained a diverse strategy. His determination paid off when he successfully landed a powerful right hook that visibly shook “H2O.” Rather than easing off, Bahdi relentlessly attacked Sylve with a combination of strikes, causing his opponent to crash face-first onto the canvas in a potential contender for KO of the Year.
DOWN GOES H2O #PaulPerry | July 20 | Live on DAZN: Click link in bio to buy pic.twitter.com/kygv18zNaK
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) July 21, 2024
Sylva and his team experienced a remarkable outcome, although the 20-year-old accepted his first defeat in his twelve-fight career gracefully.
“God’s plan,” Sylve wrote on an Instagram Story shortly after the loss. “Everything happens for a reason. Have to take your losses like you take your wins.”
Afterwards, he proceeded to recount several uplifting anecdotes from loved ones, providing support and encouragement.
“Incredible display of boxing skills, Buddy!” exclaimed comedian Minikon. “Ashton, your talent never ceases to amaze me.”
Jake Paul expressed his backing for Sylve during the post-fight press conference of the event.
“He expressed that by observing my actions and resurging even stronger, he could derive inspiration. The message is relevant to all individuals: when faced with setbacks in life, it is imperative to intensify efforts. One must return to the initial stages, reassess strategies, and persevere. True defeat only occurs when one surrenders. This insightful quote belongs to the legendary Mike Tyson.”
Sylve’s recovery from this loss will determine his future in boxing, which is less forgiving of defeats compared to MMA. If Paul continues to support and motivate him as he has done with other fighters, there’s a chance for Sylve to make a comeback. However, overcoming the memory of being knocked out in Tampa will be a challenging task.
