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NATE DIAZ looked like he was “DYING” in training to fight Jake Paul – his sparring partner worryingly claimed. Diaz makes his professional boxing debut on August 5 in Texas against YouTuber-turned prizefighter Paul.
Esquiva Falcao with Nate Diaz after sparringCredit: Twitter
Jake Paul in training to fight Nate DiazCredit: @jakepaul
And in preparation for the pay-per-view bout he sparred with Robert Garcia-trained middleweight Esquiva Falcao.
But 30–0 Falcao – an Olympic and world champion amateur boxer from Brazil – was less than impressed by Diaz.
He said in a social media video: “At first I thought he was tired, and in the end it looked like he was dying.
“His fighting style is crazy. You look at him and say, ‘Oh, he’s tired,’ and then we started sparring.
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“Robert told me in the second round, ‘He’s tired already, hold back a little bit and keep the rhythm so he does at least 10 rounds.’
“I held back and kept boxing, and we did 12 rounds. He was tired but taking punches and throwing, too.
“[He] is bad, [he] is bad, but since he’s too heavy – he’s overweight, probably around 220lbs or more – and I’m the only big guy in the gym, I had to do it. But I liked doing it.”
Diaz, 38, walked out on the UFC last year in pursuit of a lucrative switch to boxing.
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And Paul, 26, snubbed a rematch with Tommy Fury, 24, to face the MMA veteran despite his loss in their celebrity grudge match.
The American has beaten three ex-UFC stars in the past, Ben Askren, 38, Tyron Woodley, 41, and Anderson Silva, 48.
And Paul is expecting to add Diaz to that list as he revealed his prediction for the bout.
He said: “I think he’s gonna be sharp for a couple of rounds but there’s nothing he can do to stop me.
“I’m faster, I’m stronger. I’m the better boxer. “He’s gonna be coming forward. He doesn’t have head movement.
“He’s trying to pressure me. He’s gonna get diced up. I see it ending in four rounds or less.”
Jake Paul facing off with Nate DiazCredit: @mostvaluablepromotions More

TOMMY FURY has vowed to “END” YouTube boxing by taking down KSI and Jake Paul. The 2019 Love Islander handed social media star-turned prizefighter Paul his first defeat in February.
Tommy Fury facing off with KSICredit: Leigh Dawney/Misfits Boxing
But the American, 26, opted to forgo a rematch to instead return on August 5 in Texas against ex-UFC star Nate Diaz, 38.
So Fury, 24, and KSI, 30, have decided to turn their attention to each other with talks ongoing for the two to fight.
Paul has claimed he will look to rematch his celebrity boxing rival next February, exactly one year on from his split-decision loss in Saudi Arabia.
So that falls right into Fury’s 12-month plan to KO the new school crossover boxing era which has divided opinions.
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He told Sky Sports: “Everybody knows what’s next for me, it’s being teased at the minute.
“Hopefully we can get this KSI fight over the line and I’ll knock off another YouTuber.
“That’s my plan for this year. I want to end YouTube boxing within 12 months.
“So that’s my plan. So we’ll see. I don’t know. I just take it one fight at a time. All these guys are the same to me.
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“There’s not one that stands out from the rest. They’re all about the same. So anyone can get it. I’m not bothered.
“I’m used to, growing up fighting against proper boxers. These guys are a bit of a joke.”
KSI was last in the ring in May in what turned out to be a no-contest after an accidental but illegal elbow knocked out Joe Fournier, 40.
He went face to face with Fury afterwards and both camps have confirmed that a deal is imminent.
Fury said: “I’ve said my hitlist. Jake Paul’s already been struck off, KSI is next.
“Then from what I’ve seen the other day Jake Paul wants it again in February. Listen, I’m happy. I’m happy keep these fights rolling in.”
Tommy Fury beat Jake Paul on pointsCredit: Reuters More