The step appears to be the first in the crossover genre. If the sources could be counted upon, then instead of the initially decided eight, Jake Paul and Nate Diaz would now be fighting for a complete ten rounds. Neither the YouTuber-turned-boxer nor the former UFC fighter has stretched themselves to a thirty-minute battle. All the previous five bouts Paul participated in had eight rounds. Similarly, five rounds (each lasting five minutes) is the maximum distance Diaz went.

Jake Paul rode on full throttle last year with a victory over legend Anderson Silva. ‘The Problem Child’ finally met his match with Tommy Fury at the Diriyah Arna in February this year. The seesawing contest saw him sending Fury down in the final round. However, it failed to convince the judges, who saw the British boxer as a better fighter. Talks of a rematch between the two stayed afloat for some time. But come April, the announcement came that Paul would be stepping back into the ring to face UFC veteran Nate Diaz.

In a storied career with UFC that lasted nearly fifteen years, the Stockton-born fighter faced some of the biggest names in the franchise, such as Conor McGregor, Jorge Masvidal, Rafael Dos Anjos, and Donald Cerrone. It will be the first professional boxing bout for Diaz, primarily a grappler, a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. However, former world champion Andre Ward and the reigning Light Welterweight champion, Regis Prograis, who has sparred with Nate Diaz, claim his skill is natural.

Let’s go all the way, Nate Diaz tells Jake Paul

According to ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, the suggestion came from Diaz’s corner, and yesterday, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) accepted it. Early today, Paul, Most Valuable Promotions, also through its Instagram account, shared the details. The message read, “It’s official, Nate Diaz requested, Jake Paul agreed, and the Texas Athletic Commission approved. 10 rounds, 185 pounds, 10oz gloves. Saturday August 5th #PaulDiaz.”

A ten-round fight is a grueling test of endurance and mental toughness. With neither belligerents having had a chance to prove themselves to such a tribulation, viewers might encounter frequent attempts for an early stoppage. Else, a dragged-out slugfest composed of clinches and headlocks will become the norm. With Jake Paul terming it the make-or-break fight of his boxing career, it will be interesting to watch how the twenty-six-year-old Ohioan fares against the thirty-eight-year-old master grappler.

Read More: Weeks After Getting Out of Jail, Nate Diaz Cautioned by Jake Paul’s Trainer

What’s your take on the decision to extend the bout to ten rounds? Do you think both Paul and Diaz could withstand the pressure? In addition, how do you see this fight playing out? Please share your thoughts and views with us in the comments below.

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