Former NBA star Nate Robinson, once celebrated for his bold crossover to boxing, faces his toughest battle yet. Known for his scrappy spirit on the court, Robinson’s venture into boxing in 2020 ended abruptly after Jake Paul delivered a knockout punch that sent shockwaves across sports. Yet now, two years later and in the fight of his life with kidney failure, Robinson has his eyes on a second shot at Paul.

Robinson opened up about that infamous fight on Got Sole’s YouTube channel, recalling the intense moment with a mix of humor and humility. “Man, just go in there and just try to do best I could,” he said, emphasizing he was more about giving his best than winning. “It wasn’t like I was going to go in there knowing I was going to knock him out,” he laughed, admitting that stepping into a professional boxing ring was “crazy” and a whole new world for him.

Reflecting on his journey, he shared his hopes for a rematch with Paul. “You know what I’m saying? I wish I could do it again,” he revealed, adding that once he finds a kidney donor and recovers, he’s eager to get back in the ring. “I would love to get back, you know, get back and get that. Get back for sure,” he added in the podcast.

In a candid interview with Men’s Health months ago, the 40-year-old opened up about his struggles with renal failure, revealing the painful daily realities of waiting for a kidney donor. “I gotta stick around,” he said, expressing his hopes of one day becoming a grandpa and sharing stories from his NBA days with his grandchildren.

“I’m gonna be a testimony to somebody,” he added, resolved to inspire others battling their own challenges. Coming back to his bout with Jake Paul in 2020, how did it end abruptly for the 3x Slam Dunk champion?

Nate Robinson-Jake Paul fight

When Jake Paul faced Nate Robinson in their 2020 exhibition match, the fight started with an almost comedic energy. Robinson, charging forward wildly, tried to overpower Paul with an all-out attack, but struggled to land a clean punch. His aggression came at a price—Paul took advantage of the openings and, just before the round ended, landed a hard counter right that dropped Robinson. Although Robinson complained of a hit to the back of his head, it was clear things weren’t looking good.

Then came round two, where Paul found another brutal right hand that sent Robinson crashing down again. Despite Robinson clearly struggling, the referee’s unusually long count allowed him to get back up, though he was clearly still shaking.

Finally, the inevitable happened. Paul delivered a final, massive right that left Robinson sprawled on the canvas, ending the fight in a knockout. Medical staff rushed in to check on Robinson, who eventually made it to his stool, but the damage was done.

Snoop Dogg’s commentary was just as unforgettable as the fight itself. After Robinson’s first knockdown, Snoop shouted, “Oh my God! Lord have mercy! Oh Jesus!” and even broke into choral singing as Robinson struggled to his feet, adding a touch of humor to an already intense scene. While a rematch would sell tickets again, the former NBA guard’s battle with kidney failure needs more support.