Jake Paul will face UFC legend Anderson Silva next month in his latest boxing match.
The 25-year-old has been searching for his next opponent after back-to-back victories over Tyron Woodley, and is keen to stay ring-ready as he waits for a much-anticipated bout with fellow social media sensation KSI, which has been verbally agreed for next year.
The match against Silva will take place in Phoenix on October 29, and will see Paul try and register his sixth professional victory in a row.
He has since taken up boxing after two bouts years ago, and impressively outpointed former middleweight world titleholder Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and knocked out Tito Ortiz.
His slick style of striking in the octagon has been mirrored in the squared circle and should provide the kind of step up in class Paul has been looking for.
Paul, meanwhile, has knocked out AnEsonGib, Nate Robinson and Ben Askren since making his professional debut in 2020.
Silva’s MMA career finished with a whimper and he was well past his prime, winning only one of his last nine fights.
The UFC should arguably have cut ties with him long before his contract expired but the veteran still possesses solid combat skills, and is perhaps better suited to boxing than MMA.
At his best, the Brazilian was unbeaten for eight years and many elite fighters struggled to lay a glove on him, including James Irvin and Chael Sonnen.
He reigned as middleweight champion for 2457 days with a longest winning streak of 16 fights.
Following the announcement of the fight, Paul tweeted: ‘My toughest test yet. I respect the legend, but he must be exterminated.’
The bout will take place in Phoenix at the Gila River Arena, and is with Showtime Boxing.
Source: Mail Online
