Eddie Hearn has admitted that he was not impressed with the standard of boxing on display as Jake Paul defeated Nate Diaz earlier this month.
After suffering his first loss since embarking on a career inside the ring in February, Paul bounced back with a clash against UFC legend Nate Diaz at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas.
Despite contesting much of his career at 155lbs, Diaz’s striking credentials within MMA led some to believe that he could pose a credible challenge to the much larger Paul in his pro boxing debut.
Paul would ultimately emerge victorious however, taking the initiative from the opening bell and enjoying sustained periods of success throughout.
The 26-year-old even scored a fifth-round knockdown against the indefatigable Diaz, but was unable to find a stoppage victory, instead getting his hand raised via a lopsided unanimous-decision.
Eddie Hearn has criticised the standard of boxing on display as Jake Paul defeated Nate Diaz
The social media star turned boxer scored a knockdown on the UFC legend but was unable to secure a stoppage
After promoting Paul’s first professional bout in January 2020, Matchroom boxing chief Hearn has long sustained a rivalry with the former Disney Channel star, and offered a scathing assessment of Paul’s victory over Diaz.
‘It was awful,’ Hearn told the MMA Hour.
‘Don’t get me wrong, the event was unbelievable. You did a great job. Brilliant. But when you’re talking about — you know MMA like the back of your hand.
‘I know boxing like the back of my hand, and I’m watching that thinking [face in his hands], “This is so bad.”
‘The reason that Nate didn’t get stopped is that Jake didn’t have the ability. He doesn’t know how to break a fighter down, cut off the ring, beat him up, and stop him.
‘But I give my props to Nate: super tough. Super tough. But you’re talking about low, low level in terms of standard.’
Hearn did however give props to Paul for the event’s commercial success and to Diaz for his toughness
Hearn was quick to insist that The Problem Child is operating at a level well below his stated ambition of eventually fighting for a world title in boxing.
‘We have something in the UK called an area title which is kind of like a state title, call it that. These guys wouldn’t win a state title. That’s the level they’re fighting at but listen, props to Nate.
‘He definitely didn’t have ability but what he did have was plenty of grit. But Jake just doesn’t have the ability or the experience to break someone down and stop them, and I was convinced he would.’