Youtube star turned professional boxer Jake Paul has an opportunity ahead of him that could catapult his career back into a positive trajectory. Coming off a loss to Tommy Fury back in February in Saudi Arabia, Paul will need to be on his A-game on August 5th when he takes on former UFC fighter Nate Diaz in Dallas, TX.
If Paul wants to see an even bigger payday against Conor McGregor at some point (yes, we all know this is Paul’s dream fight) then a knockout or dominant win against the 38-year-old Diaz should be first and foremost on his mind.
“I see a road map where I knock out Nate and then go to Conor McGregor,” Paul told ESPN. “To do what Conor couldn’t do — knock out Nate [Diaz] — and then that’ll be the biggest fight in combat sports that could possibly be made.”
If Diaz’s demeanor and behavior during the May 9th press conference tells us anything, he could be in for a wild ride when he tangles with the younger, more powerful Paul on August 5th. Diaz, of course, split his two UFC bouts with Conor McGregor, winning the first before losing the rematch back in 2016.
Diaz gets up and leaves press conference
The writing could be on the wall in this fight as Paul is currently -285 on the betting line against Diaz, who is in the middle of facing legal trouble stemming from an assault in New Orleans.
“I think he’s a bully,” Paul stated. “I think he picks on people in the streets and likes to beat up people who can’t defend themselves. I don’t like that. And he walks around, I guess being a tough guy until he meets someone who is actually down for the smoke, like today when he just didn’t say s—.
Overcoming back-to-back losses would be a crushing blow to Paul’s career trajectory, which is often fickle in the fight game. The length of the bout has already caused great controversy. As it sits right now, the fight will be eight rounds but Diaz believes this should be a championship 12-round affair. Regardless, August 5th is likely to be a powder keg of epic proportions.
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