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The encouragement of a Hall of Fame fighter is reportedly something Nate Diaz will rely on before his match with Jake Paul.
The eight-round fight is scheduled to take place on August 5 at the American Airlines Centre in Dallas, Texas, between former UFC fighter Diaz and YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul.
The 38-year-old Diaz, a definite but reasonable underdog, will receive some helpful advice to make sure his debut boxing contest is a success.
Andre Ward, a close friend and fellow product of Northern California, made a hint in a recent interview that he will be helping Diaz in some way to be ready for Paul. The International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York, inducted Ward, a two-division champion from Oakland, California, last year.
“I mean, not to go to deep into it but he (Diaz) has reached out and we gon’ connect at a certain point, when the fight’s getting close,” Ward said on The MMA Hour. “But that’s my brother, man. I respect what he’s done for Stockton, in this area, him and his brother. It’s gon’ be a great fight”
Ward, who works now as a commentator for ESPN, cautioned people not to judge Diaz by the way he looks working the mitts.
“People look at that mitt session that Nate had, and they just misread the play, man,” Ward said. “Those type of shots—they don’t look pretty, but they keep coming, different angles. You know, he’s got some miles on him, he’s been around for a long time. He needs to show me he can take a shot from Jake Paul because Jake Paul has a natural right hand, it’s got power on it. But if he can take that right hand from Jake Paul, it’s gon’ be a tougher fight than people realize because Nate’s gon’ keep coming.”