It’s a stretch to say that Jake Paul was a modified man after his convincing, unanimous determination victory over Nate Diaz in Saturday’s catchweight boxing match in Dallas. He was nonetheless an boastful salesman after punishing the UFC legend for 10 frames, together with a fifth-round knockdown.
But as he went into Saturday’s battle with a view to a future boxing match and an enormous payday towards Conor McGregor – he as soon as known as it “inevitable” – he didn’t even need to hear the Irishman’s title after his win.
“I don’t care about that guy. He needs to go to rehab,” Paul stated, making a cryptic dig on the troubled McGregor, who has denied rape allegations as he goals to return from harm in 2024.
“I want Nate in MMA,” Paul (7-1) continued, repeating his supply to tackle Diaz in what could be his first MMA battle. “I want more professional boxers and I want (Saul) Canelo (Alvarez).”
On the floor, the assertion sounds farcical (does he actually assume he can beat Canelo?). But for a former YouTuber and Disney star combating for legitimacy as a boxer, it’s an indication of progress: Maybe he doesn’t should battle McGregor in any case.
Jake Paul has lots to be pleased about after his victory towards Nate Diaz on Saturday evening
Paul delivered 10 rounds of motion and defeated the UFC legend within the fifth in his win
Paul rejected any suggestion to face Conor McGregor within the aftermath of his battle
“Nate was definitely the strongest person I’ve fought so far,” Paul instructed reporters within the early hours of Sunday morning. “I’m getting more and more comfortable in the ring. Learning to box, learning to slow down… that experience is priceless.’
On paper, the match between Paul and Diaz was not an obvious choice for boxing fans. Who among us really cared if a former MMA star in his 30s could top a YouTuber with seven career bouts, only one of which was against a career boxer?
So to spice up Saturday’s fight, Paul added his usual dash of sophomore chest banging: He threw out Diaz fans, whom he dismissed as “virgins” at Friday’s weigh-in—and once more after the battle—and portrayed his opponent as an unprofessional destoner.
“Like, what kind of example is that to introduce to everyone, just smoke all the time?” Paul requested Diaz earlier this week.
Throw within the brawl between their respective camps at Thursday’s press convention, and presto changoPaul-Diaz had the kind of schoolyard vibe we’ve come to anticipate from crossover combating and “influencer” boxing — a loaded time period that has haunted The Problem Child.
The precise definition is tough to pin down, however for hardcore battle followers it’s a warning: boxing with out boxers.
The controversial subgenre spans a broad spectrum. Anyone from budding professionals, like Paul, to bare *followers fashions could be thought of an influencer boxer.
Paul admits his first few fights fell underneath the “influencer” label, however he made it a degree to distance himself from the time period on Tuesday.
Paul remains to be the cocky salesman he needs to be, however he’s additionally bettering as a fighter
Paul stated his confrontation with Diaz was the toughest battle of his profession to this point
“I’m not in the YouTube boxing business,” Paul instructed reporters. “That whole crazy tag-team thing, influencers versus influencers — that was my first fight three and a half years ago. I am not in that world. My cards are filled with world champions, the best of the best and the highest levels of competition. And that’s what I think others should do.’
If anything, Paul’s solitary defeat — February’s split-decision loss to cruiserweight Tommy Fury — proved he can handle a well-trained boxer. Tyson’s 24-year-old half-brother has spent half his life in the ring, while 26-year-old Paul has spent the past five years donning the gloves.
Going the distance, scoring a knockdown and winning on one of the three judges cards against Fury was a step in the right direction. Winning a 10-round decision against Diaz is even better.
“The loss, seriously, was the best thing,” Paul stated early Sunday morning. “It sent me on the path I needed to follow. You can’t cut corners in this sport. I was in the gym the day after the loss, flew back from the Middle East, I was in the gym every day until this fight because I knew I was going to come back and get stronger.”
But for all his legit progress as a fighter, charging $59.99 for the Paul-Diaz PPV was nonetheless an enormous ask.
Just every week earlier, boxing followers donated $84.99 for Terence Crawford’s eye-watering welterweight title victory over one other undefeated champion, Errol Spence Jr. Calling each Crawford and Paul “pay-per-view boxers” is like saying the Denver Nuggets and Washington Generals are all skilled basketball gamers.
Of course, expertise and talent should not the whole lot in boxing. McGregor had by no means boxed professionally earlier than becoming a member of Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2017. stepped into the ring, and he nonetheless made a whopping $130 million for his doomed effort towards an invincible foe.
That crossover matchup nonetheless ranks second in PPV historical past with $390 million in TV income and paved the way in which for MMA stars like Diaz to earn their very own seven-figure payday within the ring (Saturday’s breaks). haven’t but been revealed).
But in contrast to Paul-Diaz, Mayweather-McGregor benefited from the previous’s fame as a boxer and curiosity to see UFC’s largest star within the ring.
But regardless of Paul’s restricted boxing resume, Saturday was an unqualified success.
Paul confirmed indicators of his reliable progress as a fighter in his win towards Diaz
Diaz obtained lots of punishment, however Paul desires to rent him once more sooner or later
The matchup generated $3.1 million on the gate, which is the second highest for any fight sports activities occasion in American Airlines Center historical past. And judging by that crowd, which stood many of the evening, Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions ought to anticipate stable PPV gross sales, surpassing the reported 200,000 buys he made earlier than his battle with Fury.
For Paul – each the promoter and the boxer – that may be a actual achievement.
It’s laborious to think about him ever producing Mayweather-McGregor’s win, however on Saturday in Dallas, his product was way more watchable than the eminently disappointing 2017 crossover match, which was hampered by persistent clinching.
Paul-Diaz was having none of that. Instead, it gave followers precisely what they paid for. And if that’s Paul’s final legacy as a fighter, then that’s one thing he could be pleased with.