Jake Paul returned to winning ways as he beat Nate Diaz by unanimous decision in Dallas.
Back in the ring for the first time since his defeat to long-time rival Tommy Fury earlier this year, Paul took on former UFC star Diaz, who was making his professional boxing debut.
Paul had Diaz hurt in the first round and, although the 38-year-old rallied in the fourth with a relentless three minutes of work, a left hook sent Diaz tumbling to the canvas in the fifth.
Again though Paul could not capitalise and he increasingly looked the more tired as the fight went on, Diaz enjoying another burst in the eighth round. There was very little in the way of boxing fundamentals from Diaz, but those shortcomings were somewhat overcome when he made the fight ugly on the inside.
He did spend more than playing up to the ground than fighting in the final three minutes, though that mattered not as the bout was scored 97-92, 98-91, 98-91 in Paul’s favour.
“He’s tough, he’s real tough,” Paul said after the fight. “That’s what he’s known for. But tough in this sport doesn’t work.
“I knocked him down, won basically every round. I think he won one round. But he’s a warrior, I had him hurt in the first round and he kept on coming. No one is taking that much damage.
“Going ten rounds in my eighth fight is unheard of. I’ve only been boxing for three years.”
While Paul confirmed his desire to some point have a rematch with Fury, who fights YouTuber KSI later this year, he revealed his immediate wish is to take on Diaz once again, though next time wants it to take place in the cage.
Paul signed a contract with MMA company Professional Fighters League (PFL) at the start of the year, indicating his desire to compete across combat sports, and wants his first bout on the platform to be against Diaz.
“I want $10m, PFL that’s the offer,” Paul said to Diaz. “Let’s run it back in MMA, make it fair. I won one, now it’s your chance in your home territory. Let’s do it.”
