A fight erupted on stage between team members of Jake Paul and Nate Diaz ahead of the rivals’ boxing fight this weekend.
The two fighters held a press conference on Thursday ahead of their showdown in Texas, but ugly scenes overshadowed their latest exchange with various punches thrown in a mass brawl.
YouTube boxer Paul, 26, even claimed that a person had been taken to hospital to get stitches following the scrap, which he insisted Diaz’s team were responsible for.
“Nate’s team has emailed my team trying to claim assault after his team swung first,” he tweeted.
🔥 Emotions are HIGH between @jakepaul & @NateDiaz209 😡#PaulDiaz is LIVE on DAZN PPV on August 5 🔥@MostVpromotions | @realfightinc | @celsiusofficial | #CELSIUSLiveFit | #CELSIUSBrandPartner pic.twitter.com/zxsk6vB1pT
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) August 3, 2023
“Apparently the guy who swung first is at the hospital getting stitches. Hilarious these fake gangsters acting like this!”
Former UFC fighter Diaz, 38, had already gone on an expletive-laden rant when irked by Paul employee Derek Sullivan at the press conference.
The California native has a 3-0 boxing record yet has not fought profesionally since 2007 due to his MMA career, having last faced Tony Ferguson for a submission victory in September of last year.
Paul is looking to rebuild his credentials in the ring after suffering defeat to Tommy Fury in February.