Legendary MMA fighter Anderson Silva is set to be the next opponent for viral boxer Jake Paul.
Silva is expected to face Paul on October 29th at the Gila River Arena in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, per an announcement made Tuesday.
The fight marks the biggest challenge that Paul has faced since he started to pursue a professional boxing career in early 2020.
“It is an honor to be in there with the legendary Anderson Silva,” said Paul in a recent social media post. “Although, I’m [going to] knock him out in under five rounds.”
Paul, a celebrity that has gained notoriety for his internet presence, has picked up five wins as a pro boxer. Victories include performances over former UFC talents Tyron Woodley and Ben Askren.
Paul was expected to make his return to the ring in August at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, USA. However, his expected appearance was canceled after two opponents fell through for his booking.
Silva is known as the longest-reigning middleweight champion in UFC history. He stepped away from the sport of MMA in 2020 after suffering his third-straight defeat in the UFC.
Silva has succeeded in odd boxing matchups since then. In 2021, he picked up wins over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Tito Ortiz.
In May, Silva went to a draw in an eight-round boxing bout against Bruno Azeredo. While the exhibition rules of the fight caused there to be no winner, the matchup proved to be a showcase of Silva’s remaining sharp striking abilities on the feet at the age of 47 years old.
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