Jake Paul has a propensity of beating MMA fighters in the boxing ring, and he’ll look to repeat the feat when he takes on Nate Diaz on Saturday at the American Airlines Center.
Prior to losing to professional boxer Tommy Fury in his last fight in February, Paul scored wins against Anderson Silva, Tyron Woodley twice, and Ben Askren in a 16-month stretch.
Paul is confident he can bounce back against the decades-long MMA star Diaz.
“I think I am just a better boxer, faster, stronger, better thinker. He’s going to walk into punches. He’s going to try to come forward using that same style that he always does and I am just going to be able to pick him apart, working up and down and throw shots that he hasn’t seen before in MMA,” Paul said in an interview with BoxingScene.com.
The boxing match will mark the first time Paul is scheduled to fight for 10 rounds. Paul’s previous five fights were eight rounders and three of them went the distance.
Paul has brought in a new coaching staff to help prepare his endurance against the cardio-crazy Diaz.
“It’s interesting that a loss can give you more conviction on what it is you’re supposed to be doing and what you’re here to do,” said Paul.
“It can actually reset you on a proper path. And that’s exactly what it did for me. Now I’m feeling better than ever. Stronger than ever. In the best shape of my life. The best team around me. I couldn’t be happier. I thanked Tommy for winning. It put my life in a direction that it was supposed to be before. That is such a priceless thing.”
The Paul-Diaz fight will stream stateside on DAZN, ESPN+ and PPV.com and can be purchased for $59.99. The event is also available internationally via FITE.
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer, and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, through email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com, or via www.ManoukAkopyan.com.