Roy Jones Jr. believes Nate Diaz is an effective sufficient boxer to harm Jake Paul, however whether or not or not he wins that combat will depend upon how sound he’s defensively.
Diaz has lengthy been touted as probably the greatest boxers competing in MMA, and this Saturday he’ll step into the ring for the primary time to tackle Paul on the American Airways Middle in Dallas, Texas. “Drawback Little one” has already crushed quite a lot of former MMA fighters throughout his boxing profession, however Diaz will attempt to break that streak when he competes for the primary time since leaving the UFC.
Loads of
present and former fighters have offered their takes on the matchup between Paul and Diaz, and The Mac Life lately caught up with Jones to ask how he anticipated Diaz to truthful in his boxing debut.
“Nate’s gonna do good,” Jones stated. “It’s simply (gonna) be about how lengthy can he final, how can he take Jake’s punches, how a lot harm can he have. Nate is an effective fighter, he’s an excellent fighter. He’s an excellent striker.”
Roy Jones Jr. Expects Nate Diaz’s Protection To Be Key In opposition to Jake Paul
Whereas Jones was complimentary of Diaz’s hanging skill and possibilities towards Paul, the boxing legend did categorical a little bit of concern about whether or not or not the previous UFC title challenger can keep away from the heavy punches that shall be coming his manner.
“If he has protection, he’s good. Solely factor I fear about is his protection. Offensively he’s a terrific fighter. I do know he can combat offensively ‘trigger he’s sparred with a number of the finest. He’s been across the sport, probably the greatest strikers in MMA. So I do know he can strike, but it surely’s [different] in boxing as a result of we’ve gloves. It’s additionally, ‘Can you are taking it?’”
Diaz skilled nearly all of his success in MMA as a light-weight earlier than his matchups with Conor McGregor noticed him transfer to welterweight, and he’ll be giving up fairly a little bit of dimension to Paul of their 185-pound matchup.
The combat shall be a ten-round affair after it was initially booked for eight rounds, which is able to make it the longest bout of Paul’s boxing profession if issues find yourself going the space. “Drawback Little one” suffered his first loss when he dropped a break up choice to Tommy Fury this 12 months, however even together with his youth and dimension benefit the 26-year-old will must be at his finest when he steps into the ring with Diaz.
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