Promoter Eddie Hearn voiced his disappointment over Jake Paul’s recent boxing bout against MMA icon Nate Diaz. Paul, the social media influencer turned boxer, secured a unanimous decision win over Diaz, who was stepping into the boxing ring for the first time. Paul’s victory came on the heels of his first professional loss to Tommy Fury earlier this year.
While Paul managed to land significant blows on Diaz during their match, knocking him down in the fifth round, Diaz’s resilience shone through, making the fight quite competitive despite his unpolished and unconventional boxing technique.
However, Hearn didn’t mince words when discussing the fight with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. Describing the bout as “awful,” Hearn admitted that while the event itself was impressive, the boxing standard was severely lacking. He pointed out that Jake lacks the proficiency and experience to efficiently finish an opponent. Drawing a parallel, Hearn noted that both fighters’ skills were analogous to a low-tier regional title in the U.K. He did, however, commend Diaz for his grit and endurance throughout the fight.
Image Credit: DAZN