Eddie Hearn, an experienced figure in professional boxing, expressed doubts about Nate Diaz’s boxing abilities and deemed his upcoming match against Jake Paul as a one-sided affair that would likely not last beyond four rounds.
During an appearance on The MMA Hour, Hearn, the head of Matchroom Sport, shared his underwhelming assessment of Diaz’s skills before his boxing debut against Jake Paul on August 5th. Hearn had watched videos of Diaz hitting pads and was unimpressed with what he saw.
Upon being asked if he believed it would be a mismatch against Jake Paul, Hearn responded, “You know that it’s going to be a mismatch against Jake Paul, don’t you? I know you love Nate Diaz, and I love him. Listen, I’ve only met him a couple times — what a gent. But for it to be a mismatch against Jake Paul? Yes [he’s getting smoked].”
Diaz’s padwork has faced scrutiny in the buildup to the pay-per-view event, especially a short clip from May that received heavy criticism despite its brevity. While Diaz was highly regarded for his boxing skills in MMA and had trained with renowned boxers like Andre Ward, Hearn highlighted that success in one discipline doesn’t always translate to another. Despite his reservations about Paul’s abilities, Hearn remained confident about the outcome of the clash between Diaz and the YouTuber.
Hearn stated, “You can see people hit pads and you know whether they can [box]. From what I saw, maybe you [Helwani] against Nate is a 50-50. But we can have a friendly bet on that fight, and I’ll give you odds. I don’t know what the actual line is, because you guys do things a little bit different over here, but I’ll give you 3-to-1 on Nate Diaz if you want it.”
Emphasizing his confidence, Hearn clarified that he was referring to a fight against Jake Paul, not top-tier boxers like Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua facing an MMA fighter. He also predicted that the match would not exceed four rounds, unless Diaz’s performance thus far was merely an act.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about boxing skills
What is Eddie Hearn’s opinion on Nate Diaz’s boxing skills?
Eddie Hearn, a prominent figure in professional boxing, expresses doubts about Nate Diaz’s boxing abilities. He considers Diaz’s upcoming match against Jake Paul to be a one-sided affair that likely won’t go beyond four rounds.
Why does Eddie Hearn believe the match between Nate Diaz and Jake Paul is a mismatch?
According to Eddie Hearn, after watching videos of Nate Diaz hitting pads, he believes it will be a mismatch against Jake Paul. Hearn doesn’t hold Diaz’s boxing skills in high regard based on what he observed.
Has Nate Diaz’s padwork been criticized?
Yes, Nate Diaz’s padwork has faced scrutiny in the lead-up to his boxing debut against Jake Paul. A brief clip of Diaz hitting pads, filmed in May, received heavy criticism despite its short length.
Does success in MMA boxing skills guarantee success in professional boxing?
No, success in MMA boxing skills doesn’t always guarantee success in professional boxing. Eddie Hearn highlights that although Diaz excelled in MMA with his boxing acumen, the transition to professional boxing may not be as smooth.
What is Eddie Hearn’s prediction for the Diaz vs. Paul fight?
Eddie Hearn predicts that the fight between Nate Diaz and Jake Paul won’t go beyond four rounds unless Diaz’s current performance is a bluff. He remains confident in Paul’s chances against Diaz in their upcoming match.
More about boxing skills
- Eddie Hearn doubts Nate Diaz’s boxing skills
- Nate Diaz’s padwork scrutiny
- Eddie Hearn’s prediction for Diaz vs. Paul fight
