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Jake Paul can’t seem to get away from boxing former MMA fighters as he is apparently in talks with former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva for a highly anticipated boxing match at 185 pounds, The MMA Hour's Ariel Helwani reports. According to TMZ Sports, the fight would occur in October, although the fight date and location are yet to be decided.
Paul’s promotion Most Valuable Promotions tweeted on Tuesday that his next fight will be announced next week but did not specify an opponent or date.
Since stepping into the boxing ring, Paul is currently 5-0 as a professional boxer. His first two wins have come over a fellow YouTuber AnEsonGib and former NBA guard Nate Robinson. The YouTube sensation knocked out former UFC fighter Ben Askren following up with two wins over former UFC champion Tyron Woodley.
Jake Paul has not competed since this past December. In the past nine months, he was set to face the UK reality television star Tommy Fury in a high-profile grudge match on two occasions but both times Fury had to withdraw from the fights. The main event at Madison Square Garden appeared to be rescued when Hasim Rahman Jr agreed to fight Paul on short notice. But the bout fell through due to Rahman being unable to make the weight.
Paul has faced questions about his legitimacy as a boxer since he hasn’t fought any traditional boxers but remains one of the most talked-about personalities in combat sports as he has called out multiple well-known fighters including Conor McGregor and Canelo Alvarez, while also having a feud with UFC President Dana White over the pay structure and targeting the promotion’s notable names.
The match with Anderson Silva will be a huge opportunity for Paul to regain the lost momentum in his fighting career. Like Askren and Woodley, Silva is a former UFC fighter, although he is considered one of the all-time greats. During his run with the UFC from 2006 to 2020, Silva compiled a 17-7-1 record which includes his 16-fight win streak and 10 successful title defenses of the middleweight championship. Since leaving the UFC, the Spider has looked well settled in the boxing ring.
Silva has won two boxing matches in 2021. In the first match, he claimed a split decision win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in an eight rounds bout. Later that year, The Spider knocked out fellow former UFC champion Tito Ortiz in the very first round.
If Jake Paul vs Anderson Silva happens, it will be the toughest challenge to date for the YouTube star given what Silva has achieved in both MMA and boxing. Anderson Silva has the experience edge as a fighter while Paul has the advantage from a physical perspective.
Who you guys will be cheering for when they meet inside the ring? Let us know your opinions regarding the match-up in the comment box.
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