Anderson Silva and Floyd Mayweather competed in boxing exhibitions this past weekend in Abu Dhabi, schooling Don Moore and Bruno Machado in the squared circle, respectively. YouTube star-turned-boxer Jake Paul didn’t seem all that impressed, tweeting he would beat both “in the same night.”
Silva was once a long-time UFC boxing coach Luiz Carlos Dorea. Dorea trained Silva for wins against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., and Tito Ortiz. Paul literally laughed at Dorea’s comments.
“You have to laugh, right? Have to laugh,” Dorea told MMA Fighting. “Jake Paul is doing his part, which is to promote. It’s obvious there’s no way he can face Mayweather, one of the best boxers of all time, and Anderson, another legend. He has never faced a striking fighter .”
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Paul is 5-0 in boxing with wins over Tyron Woodley (twice) and Ben Askren, plus former NBA player Nate Robinson and fellow YouTuber Ali Enson Gib. Paul has teased on social media he’s returning to the ring Aug. 13 against a yet-to-be-revealed opponent, and Dorea said Silva “never stops training” and could meet him “depending on the negotiation.”
“He has to think of an exhibition,” Dorea said of Paul potentially facing the former UFC middleweight king. “If he’s considering an [official] fight, I think he will pay dearly. In promoting, it’s all valid. While he is doing his bit, he uses his tongue. However, you cannot use your tongue within the ring. You have to use your fists, and it’s a whole other story. Anderson is far superior .”
Silva may not meet Paul on August. 13, Dorea stated that he has verbally committed to returning to Dubai on October. 15, Dorea indicated that he will return after the Global Titans event moved from May 14, to May 21. Dorea was shifted to Abu Dhabi on May following the passing of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (May ).
It’s yet to be decided if Silva will compete in another exhibition or in an official boxing bout in October, Dorea said.
“Anderson was always training boxing even though he was fighting MMA,” Dorea stated about his development. “He was always a striker with good boxing and muay Thai. Now, almost two years later and the three [boxing matches] we’ve done, and training boxing specifically for this, Anderson is evolving a lot. Anderson is more comfortable in both his defense and movement. His boxing skills were excellent for MMA and he is putting on a great show. His level is so high.”
