The American Airlines Center hosts a night of action in Dallas this Saturday evening, and the bill topper is yet another cross-over fight that has garnered plenty of interest. YouTube star Jake Paul has found another enemy to feud with, and this time it’s former UFC star Nate Diaz in the opposite corner.
Paul vs Diaz is set for ten rounds at cruiserweight, and DAZN televise the bill live.
Paul (6-1, 4 KOs) has built the boxing side of his career on a diet of mainly internet personalties and faded UFC fighters, but ’The Problem Child’ had his bubble burst in his last fight in Saudi Arabia back in February.
The 26-year-old’s stock rose in defeat though in Diriyah, as he dropped Tommy Fury in the eighth and final round, before the Brit took a split verdict.
He has been feuding with Diaz for some time, and now the 38-year-old has answered the call for his professional debut.
The Californian has always been value for money in the octagon, and has shared the combat space with a host of big names, holding wins over Conor McGregor and Donald Cerrone, and he defeated Tony Ferguson in his most recent outing there in September 2022.
It’s unclear whether Diaz’s famous heart will transfer into the boxing ring.
Prediction: I think this will be fun while it lasts, and after giving it a go for the first few rounds, Diaz should fade, and may well be pulled out in the middle rounds.
Serrano clashes with Hardy
The nominal main event sees undisputed featherweight gold on the line, as Amanda Serrano makes the first defence of her full set of belts in a rematch against the former WBO champion, Heather Hardy (24-2, 4 KOs).
Serrano (44-2-1, 30 KOs) has been a world champion in no less than seven weight classes, and has only tasted defeat once in her last 31 contests, which was a tight split decision loss to Katie Taylor in an undisputed lightweight title attempt last April.
Since then the Puerto Rican 34-year-old has added more straps to her collection in the featherweight division, further unifying before completing the full set of titles in February with a comfortable points win against Erika Cruz Hernandez.
In their original September 2019 meeting, Serrano defeated Hardy handily on the cards, and the New Yorker has only fought three times since, which included an immediate points loss to Jessica Camara.
The Heat’ has had two wins since at a much lower level than she is used to, the last an eight round win on the cards against Taynna Cardoso in February.
Prediction: Serrano is still in very good form, and I don’t expect a slip up here. A wide points win for the champion is the smart play.
Green returns
The heavy-handed, Shadasia Green (12-0, 11 KOs) can continue her run of early wins, after coming off a stoppage win against Elin Cederroos.
This time Green, who is the mandatory challenger to undisputed super middleweight champion, Savannah Marshall is in a scheduled ten rounder at super middleweight against Olivia Curry (7-1, 2 KOs).
Remaining Undercard
In eight rounders, Ashton Sylve (9-0, 8 KOs) can score another inside schedule win in his lightweight meeting against William Silva (30-4, 18 KOs), and at welterweight, Angel Beltran Villa (17-1, 10 KOs) can halt Alan Sanchez (22-5-1, 10 KOs).
At middleweight, Kevin Newman II (14-3-1, 9 KOs) can get the better of Quilisto Madera (14-3, 9 KOs) on the cards.
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The sole six rounder is at middleweight, where Chris Avila (3-1) can outscore Jeremy Stevens (0-0-1).
In four round action, Noel Cavazos (2-1) should take a points win over Jose Aguayo (0-1) at welterweight, and at super lightweight, Cee Jay Hamilton can win on debut against Luciano Ramos (1-3), likely early on.
