Since entering the world of professional boxing, Jake Paul has drawn no shortage of attention. Now set for a showdown with UFC legend Anderson Silva on Saturday night, Paul faces what should be the stiffest test of his young career (9 p.m. ET, Showtime PPV).
Silva is the first opponent Paul has faced who will enter the ring with a professional boxing record — not counting Paul’s rematch with Tyron Woodley.
In fact, Silva holds a victory over former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez, which showed how capable the former UFC middleweight champion is of using his unorthodox movement to fluster opponents inside the boxing ring.
“When you fight in combat sports you have to be a little crazy. I’m a little crazy, too. This is not for everyone. Everyone here are special guys and for sure everyone here is a little crazy,” Silva said at the final press conference.
“This is a competition and I’m training hard to make a great show for everyone. This fight is very special to me. I try to do my best because I love fighting and I love my job and now I’m free to do everything I like to do.”
Some have questioned why Silva has decided to take this fight and if it would change how he’d be viewed in the MMA sphere. But the legend is not worried about any of that, he just wants to show how well he can box at 47 years old.
“I don’t believe this affects my legacy, in my journey in combat sports. I try to do my best to give something to the new generation,” Silva said. “Jake and I are bringing two big generations together and people think this will affect my legacy or affect Jake’s legacy, but I don’t believe that because it’s about passion and love.
“Everyone always asks, ‘Are you sure you want to face Jake Paul? He’s beating a lot of guys in the UFC.’ I say, ‘Yeah, I think I’m ready for that. He’s younger than me but I’m a superhero.'”
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Many thought Paul’s handlers would look to keep him away from Silva, a bigger, slicker and more prolific striker than anyone Paul has faced to date.
But the risk has been taken and now Paul will look to take a big step forward and prove that he is continuing to build the skills necessary to make some noise as a serious boxer.
“For sure I have more pressure on my shoulders. Just being the ‘A’ side, and the amount of shit I talk I think the entire MMA community is waiting for me to lose,” Paul said at the final press conference. “They want me to lose. I just have so many more big ideas and plans in this sport and I just plan on being here forever. This is the start of that, and the pressure is on.”
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