Anderson Silva has ignored Jake Paul’s disparagers while preparing for their pay-per-view showdown Saturday night.
The odds on their eight-round cruiserweight clash are close, despite the huge age gap between them, because the skillful Silva has accomplished so much in combat sports, mostly mixed martial arts. Silva realizes, though, that Paul’s power and youth make him a real threat to even someone as experienced as him.
“There’s a lot of people who are saying Jake is no good, he’s not as good a striker,” Silva said after a recent training session in the Los Angeles area. “But to me the fight is a fight and I’m training hard to win this fight. I’m not looking at this as an easy fight for me. Every single fight is dangerous once you step through the ropes.”
Paul (5-0, 4 KOs) viciously knocked out another former UFC champion, Tyron Woodley, in the sixth round of his most recent fight, an immediate rematch that took place December 18 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. The 25-year-old Paul will end a 10-month layoff when he encounters Silva because the popular influencer’s scheduled return August 6 at Madison Square Garden – first against Tommy Fury and then replacement Hasim Rahman Jr. – was scrapped due to Rahman’s inability to make their contracted weight a few weeks after a visa issue prevented Fury from fighting in New York.
The 47-year-old Silva last boxed 13 months ago, when he violently knocked out UFC rival Tito Ortiz in the first round of another eight-round cruiserweight contest. Silva out-boxed Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and won a split decision in his previous fight, which took place in June 2021.
The Brazilian legend’s win versus Chavez has inspired confidence among those that think he’ll top Paul in their Showtime Pay-Per-View main event at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
Mexico’s Chavez (53-6-1, 34 KOs, 1 NC) is notorious for his inconsistent training habits, which caused him to officially weigh 184 pounds, nine more than their contract weight of 175. Chavez was 35 when he fought a significantly older Silva, however, and the strong southpaw is certain he’ll prove that Paul and his handlers also made a matchmaking mistake.
“I’m not going to lose,” said Silva, who is 3-1, including two knockouts, in professional boxing matches. “Nothing will affect my legacy. I’ve worked hard for many years to do something like this for my fans. This is one more fight – one more challenge for myself – but this won’t affect my legacy and career.”
Most sportsbooks list Paul, of Westlake, Ohio, as a slight favorite to beat Silva in a main event that’ll headline a five-bout pay-per-view show (9 p.m. ET; $59.99).
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.