ANDERSON SILVA has gone from idol to rival for Jake Paul – in a fight ten years in the making.
The UFC legend is set to face Paul on October 29 in Arinoza in what will be the YouTuber-turned boxer’s toughest test.
But the American is full of respect for Silva, having idolised him since he was a teenager.
In a resurfaced tweet from 2012, Paul tweeted the Brazilian: “do u remember coming to Ohio at Quaker steak and lube ?
“I got your autograph haha ur the man I’ll never forget that stuff !!”
Paul, 25, is in training for his sixth professional bout, which had been scheduled for August 6 until chaos ensued.
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Tommy Fury, 23, pulled out for a second time, having first suffered an injured rib in training before then running into US visa issues.
Hasim Rahman Jr, 31, had signed to replace Fury but a weight disagreement with Paul saw their bout cancelled.
Paul last fought in December, knocking out Fury’s substitute Tyron Woodley, 40, who he had already beaten on points four months earlier.
That added to KOs over online rival “AnEsonGib”, ex-NBA player Nate Robinson, 38, and retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 38.
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Silva, 47, was released by the UFC in 2020 following five losses in six bouts, three of which were on the spin.
But he has made a successful transition to boxing, having already had a 1-1 record in the ring.
Silva beat former middleweight world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, 36, in June 2021 then knocked out ex-UFC champ Tito Ortiz, 47, in September.
He will become Paul’s first opponent with a recognised boxing record.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
