Jake Paul and Nate Diaz kicked off the hype tour ahead of their scheduled August 5 eight round boxing match at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas. On the undercard of the DAZN PPV broadcast, Amanda Serrano faces Heather Hardy in a rematch of Serrano’s 2019 unanimous decision victory.
Both Paul and Diaz put on their usual press conference faces Tuesday in addressing the media.
When facing some negative media questions, the 6-1 Paul, who is just about six months removed from his first career loss, against Tommy Fury in the UK, was defiant and dismissive.
“I like people to doubt me and I’m going to do what they couldn’t do, quite literally,” Paul told reporters.
“It makes me feel sorry for them because they’re not doing it, and it’s easy to talk from the couch. It’s easy to be a critic. It’s easy to have an opinion when you’ve never gotten in the ring. That’s why I respect anyone who gets into the ring, win or lose, especially if you lose and then come back. That’s how you know if they’re a true, real fighter. So I welcome the critics. I love it. I let it fuel me. That’s what has brought me here today. Quite literally it’s the hate and the people booing me and the people doubting me. I sat in front of you at these press conferences dozens of times now and said exactly what I’m going to do. I was laughed at since the very first fight in my career when I said I would be here on the biggest stages. I’ve just continued to prove people wrong, continued to put it on the line, continued to never back down. I put every single one of my opponents on the canvas. Win or lose, they’ve all gone down. I’m a real dog and I know what I’m capable of, and that’s why when these corny people try to say shit, I just laugh at them. Look where I’m at, after three years. Are you kidding me? So, I’m just getting warmed up in this game and I’m already a statue in the game. I’m here forever. Even if I lose, guess what? Y’all are still going to come back in tune in.”
As for his desire to face UFC legend Nate Diaz, Paul says he’s had his eye on the one-time Conor McGregor conqueror for a long time already.
“Nate Diaz was always the plan after Tommy,” Paul said. “Even in the build-up to Tommy, I was like it’s Nate Diaz after Tommy Fury. So that was always the plan…This is a big fight. This is a fight that I’ve wanted for a long time. [Nate] got out of his UFC contract and this is probably the biggest fight of the year, only topping me versus Tommy. I want to make big events, big fights happen and strike while the iron’s hot. He was a free agent. Let’s run it. Make it happen. Settle the sh*t talk. I’m ready for war. I’m excited to be here. Thank you for having me out, Dallas. I love y’all and I’m going to do what Conor McGregor couldn’t do, and I’m gonna knock this man out.”
The 38-year-old Diaz, meanwhile, talked up his boxing ability and his desire to take the sport seriously.
“I was being stereotyped as an MMA fighter,” Diaz said. “I don’t like being stereotyped as an MMA fighter. I’m a black belt in Jujitsu and I would have been a pro boxer when I was 18 years old, but a cage fight came up first. So I was stuck in a cage my whole career. And there were times when I got locked out and contracted right away…so I was just locked in longer and longer. I’ve been going to boxing gyms since I was 15 years old. I’m a pro boxer and I don’t think I’ve ever got my a** whupped in a boxing gym and not come back as the last guy to win when the round ends. So, I’ve always wanted to box and like I said, I’ve felt like a pro boxer the whole time. Every fight in MMA, I was training just like any boxer trains for a boxing match…So yeah, I’m glad I get to come here and showcase my skills in boxing.”
Like it or not, Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz will be big and, honestly, more than a bit intriguing.
