Jake Paul and Anderson Silva will square off in a boxing match Oct. 29 at Gila River Arena in Phoenix, Ariz., Paul’s promotion Most Valuable Promotions announced Tuesday.
Paul is 5-0 in boxing since his debut in 2020, a run that includes a pair of wins over former UFC welterweight king Tyron Woodley and former Bellator and ONE champion Ben Askren. The 25-year-old was scheduled to meet Tommy Fury and Hasim Rahman Jr. earlier this year but both matches fell through.
“It’s an honour to be there with Anderson Silva, although I will knock him out in under five rounds,” Paul said in his announcement.
The biggest fight of the year is happening Saturday, October 29th live from Phoenix, Arizona at Gila River Arena. #PaulSilva is official. @GilaRiverArena @ShowtimeBoxing @jakepaul @SpiderAnderson pic.twitter.com/oQwMPqmwUR
— Most Valuable Promotions (@MostVpromotions) September 6, 2022
Silva, 47, made the transition from MMA to boxing after parting ways with the UFC in 2020 to win three times inside the squared circle, including a decision over veteran Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and a knockout against Tito Ortiz. As a UFC fighter, “The Spider”, knocked out Vitor Belfort and Forrest Griffin as well as Nate Marquardt and Rich Franklin.
The Brazilian boxer Bruno Machado faced off against Paul in Dubai earlier in the year. He knocked down the UAE Warriors lightweight champion but Paul wasn’t impressed and promised to beat Silva and Floyd Mayweather in “the same night .”
I would beat Floyd and Anderson in the same night
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) May 21, 2022
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) May 21, 2022
Silva’s former boxing coach Luiz Carlos Dorea said to MMA Fighting that he would “pay dearly,” if he agreed to fight the UFC legend.
“If the man is considering a [against Silva], fight, I believe he will be very hurt,” Dorea stated. “In promoting, it’s all valid. While he’s giving his best, he’s also using his tongue. However, you cannot use your tongue within the ring. Anderson is far better. Anderson is a far superior .”
