Promoter Eddie Hearn is hoping to avoid a physical confrontation the next time he sees MMA veteran Nate Diaz.
In a recent interview, Hearn was highly critical of the in-ring action between Diaz and crossover boxer Jake Paul.
Earlier this month, Paul picked up a ten round unanimous decision over Diaz, who was making his professional debut in boxing.
While Hearn was very complimentary of the overall event, he was less than impressed with the actual boxing.
“It was awful,” Hearn told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. “Don’t get me wrong, the event was unbelievable. You did a great job. Brilliant. But when you’re talking about…. you know MMA like the back of your hand. I know boxing like the back of my hand, and I’m watching that like [face in his hands], ‘This is so bad.’ The reason that Nate didn’t get stopped is that Jake didn’t have the ability. He doesn’t know how to break a fighter down, cut off the ring, beat him up, and stop him. But I give my props to Nate: super tough. Super tough. But you’re talking about low, low level in terms of standard.
“We have something in the U.K. called an area title, which is in a specific radius — it’s kind of like a state title. These guys wouldn’t win a state title, that’s the level they’re fighting at. But listen, props to Nate. He definitely didn’t have ability, but what he did have was grit. But Jake just doesn’t have the ability or the experience to break someone down and stop them. And I was convinced he would.”
Hearn’s statements would eventually circulate to Diaz – who is well known for settling matters in a face-to-face manner.
“Eddie Hearn I’ll beat all [your] fighters asses. Lightweight, middleweight, heavyweights, any weight, all of them will get f*—– up. Unless it’s complimentary, keep my name outta your mouth cause you might get it also, and fighters check your promoter so he doesn’t get you guys punked,” Diaz stated on social media.
Hearn, who is no stranger to receiving physical threats, would like to avoid that scenario with Diaz.
“If Nate Diaz does see me, please don’t choke me out. Very scary, probably more scary than John Fury. Out of ten, ten being most scared, twelve. They said what do you think of Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz and I said, as an event, unbelievable. But, in terms of the boxing quality, really poor,” Hearn said to Boxing Social.
“I don’t think you should be threatened or penalized for giving your opinion on a fight. I’m a big fan, genuinely I’m a big fan of Nate Diaz, he’s a very good boxer, but, I promote some of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world. I’m not saying he can’t box, but he can’t box at that level.”