JAKE PAUL returns to settle a score with Nate Diaz in his next fight.
The YouTube star is coming off the first defeat in his seven-bout prizefighting career, losing a split-decision to Tommy Fury in February.
But Paul decided against invoking his rematch clause to instead welcome Diaz to the boxing ring on August 5 in Texas.
The bad blood has been brewing and will come to a head in Dallas, as SunSport runs down how the rivals compare.
Diaz, 37, spent 15 years in the UFC, becoming a beloved cult hero alongside his brother Nick, 39.
He shot to fame following his March 2016 upset over Conor McGregor but went on to lose the thrilling rematch five months later.
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A trilogy with McGregor, 34, has failed to materialise and Diaz walked out on the UFC last year when his contract expired.
He crosses over to boxing with a storied 35 MMA bouts, winning 22 and losing 13, with 18 combined stoppages in the cage.
Diaz is a jujitsu specialist with a boxing base, having sparred American legend Andre Ward during his prime.
Paul, 26, meanwhile is still a relative novice, having only made his professional debut in 2020 following one exhibition win.
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But during that three-year period, he racked up six wins, four by knockout, while facing three ex-MMA champions.
Paul KO’d Ben Askren, 38, in April 2021, before twice beating former UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley, 40, that year.
He outpointed Woodley and won the rematch by KO while a year later bettering UFC icon Anderson Silva, 47, over eight rounds.
But when stepping up against a recognised boxer for the first time in Fury, 23, Paul was beaten on points in Saudi Arabia.
He had the option for a rematch or a bitter grudge match against online rival KSI, 29, but Diaz was instead selected.
Diaz was at Paul’s October 2022 win over Silva and their opposing teams clashed backstage.
A war of words had ensued both before and after the incident, leading to an expected score-settling showdown.
Paul is one inch taller than Diaz at 6ft 1in, and will take a natural size advanatage into the fight.
He weighed a career-lowest (13st 1lb) before losing to Fury, having largely boxed at 190lb.
Meanwhile, Diaz fought most of his UFC career in the 155lb lightweight division (11st).
But he finished his career at 170lb (12st 1lb) as a welterweight, including his finale win against Tony Ferguson, 39.
Paul will meet Diaz at a 185lb catchweight, over eight rounds.
He has gone that distance three times before, against Woodley, Silva and Fury, losing just the once.
Diaz, known for his conditioning, only went the full five-round UFC distance three times during his career.
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And with only five KOs to his name, Paul will be the bigger puncher of the two.
Diaz is by far the more experienced fighter, but Paul’s prior wins over MMA stars show it can matter little when the cage is swapped for the ring.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
