By: Sean Crose
Critics of the social media star who turned to pro boxer Jake Paul for not engaging in a solid enough competition since first entering the ring will likely nod in agreement when they hear it. Who is the ferocious Ohioan who has lined up to be his next opponent. “My toughest test yet,” Paul tweeted on Tuesday. “I respect the legend, but he must be destroyed.” And who is the “legend?” None other than Anderson Silva, perhaps the greatest mixed martial artist to ever enter the octagon. But Silva is much more than an aging UFC star – the man who, despite being in his forties, has proven in recent years to be a pretty decent fighter. Probably not championship level for his age, but good enough to definitely give Jake Paul a challenge.
Key point? This fight is interesting. Furthermore, Paul might actually have an opponent that will appear. Paul and his advertising team, as well as Showtime, had to deal with his August 8 scheduled card cancellation in Madison Square Garden as each of the two he had arranged to battle fights – Tommy Fury and Hasim Rahman Jr – could not (or would not) meet the requirements to fight (not allowed entry into the United States and cannot exercise their respective weights). Given what one will say about Silva, it is doubtful he will miss or pass up the pay-per-view top-up opportunity.
The fight will take place in Phoenix at Gila River Arena on October 29 as the main event of Showtime’s pay-per-view broadcast.
