GLENDALE, Arizona – Even Jake Paul’s perpetually supportive big brother questioned his decision to fight Anderson Silva.
By Thursday, though, Logan Paul predicted that Silva will meet the same fate Saturday night that fellow former UFC champion Tyron Woodley experienced 10 months ago. The elder Paul playfully taunted Silva during the final press conference for the eight-round cruiserweight clash between Jake Paul (5-0, 4 KOs) and Silva (3-1, 2 KOs).
“Anderson, I love you, but I think Jake’s gonna knock you out,” Logan Paul said. “I’m positive he is. I’m so sure.”
Jake Paul brutally knocked out Woodley in the sixth round of an immediate rematch December 18 that theretofore played out comparably to their first fight, an eight-rounder Paul won by split decision in August 2021. Paul’s thudding right hand to the side of Woodley’s head sent the ex-UFC welterweight champion crashing to the canvas, face first.
The 47-year-old Silva is a more accomplished boxer than Woodley (0-2), but Logan Paul expects his brother to devastate Silva similarly.
“It only ends one way,” Logan Paul said. “I love you, but to answer your question, Jake, about two months ago is when I became certain that the fight was gonna end the same, as it always does. Again, Anderson, I love you, but you’re gonna be face down, horizontal, by the end of the night.”
The fun-loving Silva didn’t take offense to Logan Paul’s prediction. The former UFC middleweight champ admitted that even supportive people in his circle cautioned him that fighting someone almost half his age might not be the best idea.
“That’s crazy,” Silva said, “because everybody ask me the same [question]. ‘You sure you gonna do that? It’s Jake Paul. You sure? He’s beating a lot of guys in your seat. You think?’ I say, ‘Yeah, I think I’m ready for that. You know, he’s younger than me, but I’m a superhero.’ ”
Unlike his first four opponents, Jake Paul has been nothing but respectful toward Silva, who he has consistently called his “idol.”
“Hey, like for the first time ever,” Jake Paul said, “Logan talked more sh*t to my opponent than I ever did.”
Paul-Silva will headline Showtime’s five-fight pay-per-view show from Desert Diamond Arena on Saturday night (9 p.m. ET; $59.99). Most handicappers have installed Paul as an approximate 2-1 favorite over Silva, a Brazilian southpaw who will box for the first time since he knocked out another UFC icon, Tito Ortiz, in the first round 13 months ago at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.