On Wednesday, it was announced that a deal had been reached for Nate Diaz and Jake Paul to face off in an eight-round boxing match this summer.
Diaz, a former UFC title challenger, will be making his boxing debut, while Paul, a YouTuber-turned-boxer with a record of 6-1, will be stepping into the ring once again. The fight is scheduled to take place on August 5th at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, and will be contested at 185 pounds. Promoted under the DAZN banner, the fight will be available to watch live on pay-per-view.
After fulfilling his UFC contract last September, Diaz became a free agent and has been weighing his options ever since. It's been widely known that he's been interested in exploring the boxing world, and now he's finally getting the opportunity to do so.
“Besides Canelo, he’s the biggest thang in boxing,” Diaz said in a statement. “I’m here to conquer that. I’m the king of combat sports, and then I’m headed back to get my UFC belts. I f*cked up Conor for acting out and now here I am again, like a super hero of the Real Fight game, the king of the Real Fight game.”
Despite losing to Tommy Fury in his previous fight, Jake Paul has landed the biggest fight of his boxing career against Nate Diaz. Paul had been anticipating a fight with Diaz for almost three years and his prediction has finally come true.
“My last fight didn’t end the way I wanted, but the result was the best thing that could have happened to my professional boxing aspirations,” Paul said. “Now the world thinks I am vulnerable, when all I am is more focused than ever. My team wanted me to take an easy fight like KSI next, but that’s not how I am built. Nate Diaz is considered one of the most bad-ass fighters of all time, but he and his team have been running their mouths for too long.
“People tell me Nate has been training with Andre Ward for years, that he has insane stamina, that he refuses to back down. Good for f*cking Nate. I haven’t forgotten about the slap backstage in Arizona, and on August 5th, a ‘Problem Child’ is going to piece up and knock out the ‘Stockton G.’”
On August 5th, fans may finally witness what they have been anticipating: a legitimate fight, a formidable adversary, and an opportunity for Diaz to advance his career. This highly anticipated match between Diaz and Paul offers a chance for a genuine challenge that transcends mere trash-talking and posturing.
While Paul will undoubtedly bring his usual level of hype, promotion, and salesmanship, Diaz possesses the potential to inject reality into the proceedings and remind everyone that he is not to be underestimated.