Jake Paul insists the same "secret punches" which have dropped his sparring partners will be the key to knocking out Anderson Silva in their upcoming fight.
Paul, 25, looks for his sixth professional win when he fights 47-year-old UFC legend Silva in arguably his toughest challenge to date on October 29. Their fight will take place over eight rounds of three minutes with both men weighing 187lb, two pounds above the weight at which Silva reigned as UFC champion. Paul is also giving up a size advantage for the first time in his short-lived boxing career, with Silva an inch taller.
Relishing the chance to face a southpaw, Paul teased he will show off the 'secret punches' he's been drilling in training camp against Silva. "I think it's going to be a very tough fight in the beginning, but I will slowly be able to get him to retreat once he feels my power. I've got some secret punches for him lined up that have been dropping my sparring partners," he told ESPN.
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"I actually love going up against southpaws, it's almost become my favourite thing even more so than fighting orthodox fighters. It'll be a tough fight in the beginning, but I will slowly pick him apart to create an opening to knock him out, I'm a knockout artist that's what I do. I set up my opponents, get them feeling comfortable and in the exact spot that I want and then put them away."
Silva, who was linked to a fight against Paul's brother Logan last year, has impressed fans since crossing over to boxing following his UFC exit two years ago. After outpointing former world champion in Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, 'The Spider' knocked out fellow UFC veteran Tito Ortiz and fought Bruno Machado in an un-scored exhibition fight. Despite the 22-year age gap between them, Paul insists Silva is his toughest challenge to date.
"I think he's the definitely the most skilled boxer I'm going up against yet and he just beat a former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, schooled him for eight rounds," he said. "If I was to fight him, people would be like 'oh finally he's fighting a former world champion pro boxer' but guess what? Anderson beat the s*** out of the dude. He has so much experience, he's been on the big stage so many times, so it's not going to affect. What's great about this fight is, whoever has the most skill will win."
