Jake Paul announces next fight against former UFC challenger Nate Diaz

The duo will square off on August 5th in Dallas

Michael Jones
Wednesday 12 April 2023 20:57 BST
Comments
(AFP via Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

Jake Paul will fight UFC star Nate Diaz in August after the two men reached a deal to share the boxing ring this summer.

The announcement came on Wednesday that form UFC title challenger Diaz would square off with the YouTuber-turned-boxer in Dallas on August 5th.

The fight will be an eight-round boxing match, which will be contested at 185 pounds will be promoted by DAZN airing live on pay-per-view.

Diaz’s contract with the UFC ended last September and he has been waiting for the opportunity to move into boxing.

“Besides Canelo, he’s the biggest thang in boxing,” Diaz said in a statement about the fight with Paul.

“I’m here to conquer that. I’m the king of combat sports, and then I’m headed back to get my UFC belts.”

Should the fight happen it would be the biggest one of Paul’s boxing career following his blockbuster defeat to Tommy Fury in his last outing. Paul has been angling to fight Diaz for the better part of three years and now it looks as though his wish will be granted.

“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,” he 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.

“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.’”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in