In an unexpected turn of events, social media influencer and professional boxer Jake Paul has announced his upcoming fight against MMA star Nate Diaz on August 5th. The bout is set to take place at an undisclosed location and comes after months of heated exchanges between the two fighters on social media. Meanwhile, British boxer Tommy Fury has teased a potential bout with pop star Liam Payne, adding to the excitement building in the world of combat sports. With both matchups sure to bring in massive viewership, fight fans all over the globe are eagerly anticipating the showdowns.
Jake Paul, the YouTuber-turned-professional-boxer, is set to return to the ring on August 5th in a bout against former UFC fighter Nate Diaz. The event will take place in Dallas, Texas, and will mark Paul’s first fight since his defeat to Tommy Fury in February. The bout will be fought at the same 185-pound weight limit that was imposed for Paul’s defeat to Fury, which was the first defeat of his professional career, leaving him with a 6-1 record.
Diaz, who was best known in UFC for his 2016 victory over Conor McGregor, will be stepping into the professional boxing arena for the first time. “My last fight didn’t end the way I wanted,” Paul said in a statement. “But the result was the best thing that could have happened to my professional boxing aspirations. Now, the world thinks I am vulnerable when all I am is more focused than ever.”
Despite being linked with a rematch against Fury or a bout against fellow YouTuber-turned-professional-boxer KSI, Paul ultimately opted for the 37-year-old Diaz. “My team wanted me to take an easy fight like KSI next, but that’s not how I am built,” Paul said. “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.”
Diaz completed his UFC contract with a win over Tony Ferguson in September, leaving him with a 21-13 record in mixed martial arts’ most popular organization. However, he says he intends to return to the octagon after facing Paul. “Besides Canelo, he [Paul] is the biggest thang in boxing,” Diaz said in a statement. “I’m here to conquer that. I’m the King of combat sports, and then I’m headed back to get my UFC belts.”
Following the announcement of Paul’s contest with Diaz, Fury teased a return to action of his own against former One Direction singer Liam Payne. Payne posted a poster on his social media accounts on Wednesday evening suggesting a bout between himself and Fury at Old Trafford this summer will be announced on Thursday. Fury then reposted the poster himself a short time later.
Fury, who is the brother of heavyweight world champion Tyson, extended his professional record to 9-0 by beating Paul via a split decision in February. Payne, who is not known to have any boxing experience, was a member of the pop band One Direction from 2010 to 2016 and has since released solo material.
In the fight between Fury and Paul, there was a lot of hype leading up to the event, and many boxing fans were curious to see how the YouTube star would fare against a professional boxer. Although Fury ultimately won the bout, it was clear that Paul held his own and wasn’t the easy target that many initially thought he would be.
Paul has been taking his boxing career seriously, and there is no doubt that he has the potential to continue to make waves in the sport. Diaz, on the other hand, is a seasoned fighter with a reputation for being tough and tenacious. This match between the two is sure to be one worth watching.
As for the proposed fight between Fury and Payne, it remains to be seen whether it will actually come to fruition. Still, the idea of a former boy band member facing off against a professional boxer is certainly an intriguing one.
Overall, the world of combat sports is constantly evolving, and it is clear that there is an appetite for events that feature unconventional matchups or celebrities with no background in the sport. As long as the matches are entertaining and the fighters take their training and preparation seriously, there is no reason why this trend can’t continue.
It’s official, Jake Paul will be stepping back into the ring on August 5 for what is set to be his toughest test yet against Nate Diaz. The YouTube sensation has taken the boxing world by storm, and his matchup with Diaz is sure to have fans on the edge of their seats. Meanwhile, the hype surrounding the potential clash between Tommy Fury and Liam Payne is growing, with both fighters trading words on social media. It remains to be seen whether these two will indeed meet in the ring, but one thing is for sure, the world of celebrity boxing is hotter than ever. Stay tuned for what promises to be an exciting summer of boxing action!
