GLENDALE, Arizona – The promotion of Jake Paul’s sixth professional fight has been far different than the first five because Paul has expressed nothing but respect for Anderson Silva.
Paul repeatedly has called Silva his “idol” and admits it is “surreal” that he’ll share the ring Saturday night with one of the most legendary figures in the history of combat sports. The 25-year-old influencer’s reverence for Silva didn’t prevent him from predicting another viral victory during his open workout Wednesday.
“I’m trying to get that ‘KO of the Year’ part two,” Paul told emcee Ralph Velez Jr., who interviewed Paul in the ring at WaterDance Plaza in the Westgate Entertainment District.
Part one was Paul’s spectacular knockout of another former UFC champion, Tyron Woodley, in the sixth round of their rematch last December 18 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. Paul went the distance for the only time in five fights when he defeated Woodley by split decision in their August 2021 bout at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland.
Their rematch unfolded similarly until Paul’s ravaging right hand knocked Woodley unconscious.
Brazil’s Silva is 47 years old and went 1-7 (1 NC) in his final eight mixed martial arts bouts. Silva’s definitive victory over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in their eight-round cruiserweight boxing match 16 months ago, combined with Paul’s inexperience, nonetheless encouraged oddsmakers to install Silva (3-1, 2 KOs) as a slight favorite in advance of an eight-round cruiserweight contest Showtime will televise as the main event of a five-fight pay-per-view show from Desert Diamond Arena (9 p.m. ET; $59.99).
Whatever hardcore boxing fans think of his career, a proud Paul (5-0, 4 KOs) still sort of cannot believe he’ll headline a pay-per-view show with an icon he idolized.
“That’s how you know you made it,” Paul said. “And what’s crazy is there could be kids out here that one day maybe fight me. OK? And that’s the power of a dream. And you never know what’s gonna happen. And to be fighting my idol this weekend, it means a lot. He’s a ‘GOAT’ of combat sports. He’s one of the greatest strikers ever. I respect this man so much. I looked up to him. And he told me that I can do whatever I want and I could accomplish whatever I want in my life, if I set my mind to it, when I was a kid. And now, I’m setting my mind to beating him.”
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.