Eddie Hearn impressed by ‘unbelievable’ Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz event … but fight itself was ‘awful’

Eddie Hearn had combined emotions concerning the spectacle that was Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz in Dallas, Texas on Aug. 5, 2023.

Longtime combined martial arts (MMA) star, Diaz, was unable to come back up victorious in his skilled boxing debut at Middleweight, dropping a ten three-minute spherical unanimous choice to “The Drawback Little one” (watch highlights). Regardless of his greatest efforts, Diaz remained a fan favourite from begin to end of the boxing match’s construct and aftermath.

Every boxer labored collectively to advertise their match and occasion to placed on a well-ran product. No stranger to the boxing promotion sport, the aforementioned Hearn has labored alongside Paul earlier than and praised the product delivered. Nonetheless, what truly occurred within the ring was one other story.

“It was terrible,” Hearn instructed The MMA Hour. “Don’t get me incorrect, the occasion was unbelievable. You (Ariel Helwani) did an awesome job. Sensible. However while you’re speaking about — you understand MMA just like the again of your hand. I do know boxing just like the again of my hand, and I’m watching that like (face in his palms), ‘That is so dangerous.’ The rationale that Nate didn’t get stopped is that Jake didn’t have the power. He doesn’t know break a fighter down, minimize off the ring, beat him up, and cease him. However I give my props to Nate: tremendous robust. Tremendous robust. However you’re speaking about low, low degree when it comes to customary.”

Diaz’s patented Stockton, Calif. toughness was on full show all through the match, particularly within the first half. Struggling an enormous knockdown in spherical 5, the one-time Final Combating Championship (UFC) title challenger managed to rally and stay aggressive till the ultimate bell.

In the end, the 38-year-old Diaz couldn’t match the 26-year-old Paul’s energy and menace with something however quantity. Hearn has respect for Paul and his willingness to carve the profession he has to this point, however he stays real looking on simply how a lot boxing expertise has been on show in his eight fights to this point.

“We have now one thing within the U.Ok. known as an space title, which is in a particular radius — it’s sort of like a state title,” Hearn mentioned. “These guys wouldn’t win a state title — that’s the extent they’re preventing at.

“However pay attention, props to Nate,” he concluded. “He positively didn’t have means, however what he did have was grit. However Jake simply doesn’t have the power or the expertise to interrupt somebody down and cease them. And I used to be satisfied he would.”