Despite never having a boxing match before, Paul will pay Diaz around $500,000 to simply turn up and deliver another notch on the Problem Child’s wretched resume.
This isn’t sport. It’s a business transaction.
Boxing is, to Jake Paul at least, the most fun way he’s come up with to date to make himself incredibly rich without sharing any of the pie with Google, Musk or Zuckerberg.
SKRAP PACK
Diaz, 38, was a fan favourite in MMA. During his 21-13 career he and his brother Nick would bring street violence to the Octagon with their anyone, anytime, anyplace mentality.
Durability was the Diaz Bros hallmark. They would walk down opponents, often taking their best strikes on the chin, relying on insane cardio and heart to drain the desire from foes.
Nate is best known, of course, for his March 2016 victory over Conor McGregor, after he stepped in at late notice to choke out of the two-weight champ in the second round.
Submissions are Diaz’s premier skillset, supported by the 12 tap-out victories in 21 career wins against just five knockouts. But of course, all 34 of his MMA bouts were against men of similar size and standing.
There are weight classes in organised fight sports for a reason, to protect the athletes and ensure safe and fair competition.
But clearly weight classes don’t matter in Dallas, not when there is real money to be made.
WAIT… WEIGHT?
This weekend’s fight is scheduled to take place in boxing’s cruiserweight division, so a max of 200lb on the scales. Nate Diaz has never weighed 200lb in his life.
After spending most of his career at 155lb, he competed at 170lb towards the end – which is basically his walk around weight.
Last year, Khamzat Chimaev weighed in at 178.5lb for a scheduled welterweight bout with Diaz but the UFC scrapped it due to the weight difference being unfair.
Jake Paul will be at least two stone heavier come fight night!
FAUX-BOXING
Diaz is durable as hell, but he cuts up easily. That’s what happens after two decades of taking punches, elbows and kicks to your cranium.
Chances are he’ll be slick enough to avoid Paul’s overhand rights and survive the 10 scheduled rounds. But, in all honestly, this may come down to how Nate feels on the night.
He’s unpredictable and impulsive and if he feels he’s being taken advantage of inside the ring he’s more than capable of stepping out of the ropes or even fouling to force a premature stoppage to the circus.
