Claressa Shields is hopeful that Jake Paul will be knocked out if he does eventually face UFC legend Anderson Silva in the boxing ring.
Shields and Paul had a long-running feud, but appeared to have squashed their rivalry over the past few months, making complimentary comments about one another. But Shields has changed her tune and said that she is hopeful of seeing Silva, who has re-emerged as a combat sports force in his late forties as a boxer, knock him out.
Paul has gone 5-0 as a professional boxer, and stopped all four of his opponents since his January 2020 debut, including MMA champions Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley. But he has yet to fight anyone who boxed professionally before or after facing him.
Shields argues that this, coupled with his audacious callouts of the likes of Canelo Alvarez and other top fighters, is indicative of a lack of respect for the sport. Even though she has softened her stance on Paul in recent times, she admits that she wants to see Silva beat him.
“I want Anderson Silva to knock out Jake Paul,” Shields told The Schmo. “That’s what I want. And I believe he’s the guy to do it. I think Jake Paul has fought against Tyron Woodley, who is a great guy, great MMA fighter.
"But Silva has shown that he’s a really really good boxer, even though he has an MMA background. So I would love to see him fight a Jake Paul. I think both guys are really enhancing their skills, I just don’t really like Jake Paul like that. I want him and Anderson Silva to fight, and I want Anderson Silva to win.”
Silva is a 3-1 professional boxer, and most recently competed in an unsanctioned exhibition bout against fellow MMA fighter Bruno Machado in Dubai. He dominated his opponent over the eight-round distance and dropped him with a massive shot, but no score was announced and his record remained in tact at 3-1.
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His last legitimate win was a brutal knockout over Tito Ortiz within minutes of their bout on the undercard of Evander Holyfield's comeback fight with Vitor Belfort in September. Silva has remained respectful of the Paul brothers Jake and Logan amid numerous fight discussions, and could still be a potential opponent for the younger's comeback on August 6.
No opponent has been announced as yet for Paul's first fight in Madison Square Garden, which will come on a double-headliner bill with women's boxing legend Amanda Serrano. The Brooklyn native just fought Katie Taylor in the biggest women's boxing match of all time, and is expected to rematch the Irishwoman next year.
“I like what Jake Paul is doing,” Shields added. “He’s brought a whole bunch of attention to boxing, and women’s boxing. It’s just about him respecting the sport, and if you’re going to be calling out Canelo and that kind of stuff, you have to at least fight against a real fighter and not be using everybody’s name for clout.”
