Eddie Hearn expects Jake Paul to be a bit too fresh for 47-year-old Anderson Silva
Eddie Hearn predicted Jake Paul (5-0, 4KO) will defeat Anderson Silva (3-1, 2KO) when talking to Betfred’s Lightweight Boxing Show, stating that “Silva is definitely his toughest challenge so far and if he wins he should get the appropriate credit.”
Silva, known as 'The Spider', is a Brazilian-American former UFC Middleweight Champion and holds the record for the longest title reign in UFC history at 2,457 days, which started in 2006 and ended in 2013 and included a UFC record 16 consecutive victories in that span. Many UFC insiders rate Silva as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time.
The 47-year-old from LA has a boxing record of three wins and one loss, and hasn't fought in over a year. YouTuber-turned-professional boxer Jake 'The Problem Child' Paul, 25 from Cleveland, Ohio, has an unbeaten record but is widely criticised for not choosing to fight fellow pro boxers, opting to challenge older MMA fighters instead.
Eddie Hearn’s prediction for Jake Paul versus Anderson Silva:
“Anderson Silva is 48 years old now, but he’s an MMA legend. He’s a decent striker as well, and obviously has that victory over a very faded Julio César Chávez Jr. I just expect Jake to be a bit too fresh for him.
“Watching Jake, he’s definitely improving as a fighter. You can see that. He’s in good shape and he’s a strong young man, but he’s probably not going to get as much credit as he deserves if he wins because the argument that he hasn’t beaten a boxer will remain. Silva is definitely his toughest challenge so far and if he wins he should get the appropriate credit.”
Eddie Hearn on how good a boxer he believes Jake Paul is:
“I don’t think he’s terrible but he’s certainly not going to be competing at world level. Again, we shouldn’t really knock him because many fighters are trying to compete at world level but also won’t make that grade as well, and that’s no disgrace because it’s a very difficult thing to do. He is improving and he’s given his time to the sport. Good luck to him.”
BBN Editor, Tim Rickson, added:
"Jake Paul is a professional boxer who has never fought against another professional boxer. On that basis, you can't take his sporting career seriously, and defeating a former MMA fighter who is close to 50-years-old will not give him any form of credit or plaudits."I do, however, appreciate his presence in the sport. Whether you like this new trend of YouTubers in boxing or not, they are shining a light on the sport and bringing a new and large audience to boxing, which is needed. If a young prospect from the UK gets a chance to fight on a Jake Paul undercard in front of millions of viewers then that can only be a positive thing. If you don't like it, just don't watch it or pay any attention to it."
