UFC legend Nate Diaz has been backed to surprise fans in his boxing debut against Jake Paul.
Diaz will step into the ring for the first time in his combat sports career against YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul on August 5 in Dallas, Texas. Paul had been calling for a fight with Diaz since his win against Anderson Silva last October, an event that Diaz was booted out of by security after clashing with Paul's team backstage.
Fans feared the worst for Diaz in his upcoming fight after recent footage of him hitting pads circulated online. Former world titleholder Andre Ward has now come to the defence of Diaz as he believes fans misinterpreted his skills in the clip. “People look at that mitt session that they had and they just misread the play. Those type of shots, they don’t look pretty, but they keep coming,” Ward said on The MMA Hour. “They keep coming from different angles and he’s got some miles on him. He’s been around a long time.
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Ward thinks Paul will be in for a tough fight if Diaz can absorb the power of his right hand. "He to show that he can take the shot from Jake because Jake has a natural right hand, it’s got power on it. If he can take the right hand from Jake, it’s gonna be a tougher fight than people realise, man, because Nate’s going to keep coming.”
Diaz and his brother Nick are known for their ability to sustain damage without being knocked out, as was shown in Diaz's infamous 2016 win against fellow UFC legend Conor McGregor. Diaz has hinted that he could return to the UFC after fighting Paul as he wants to make a title charge in the promotion despite recently turning 38.
Ward revealed that Diaz has requested his service in the lead-up to his fight against Paul, an offer the former world champion will gladly take up having previously sparred with Diaz and his brother. "Not to go too deep into it, but he’s reached out and we’re gonna connect at a certain point when the fight is getting close," he added.
"I've sparred Nate a lot more than Nick. I think I liked to work with Nate a little bit better because he's longer and a bit more awkward. "That’s my brother. I respect what he’s done for Stockton and in this area, him and his brother and it’s going to be a good fight."
