What most thought was a joke at first has blossomed into another career path. YouTuber and internet personality Jake Paul continues his burgeoning boxing career against former UFC standout Anderson Silva in a cruiserweight battle set for Saturday, October 29 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, AZ. Those who know boxing understand Paul has the skillset to be good, but his damage thus far has been against payday fighters with none of his five victims owning a winning professional record inside the ring. We really don’t know how good he can be but we’ll get a better idea this weekend when Paul faces his first opponent with a winning record as a considerable betting favorite.
Silva’s combat career took him from the octagon to inside the ring where he’s continued to perform at a high level despite his advanced age. His lengthy MMA career ended a few years ago and Silva rebranded himself. An upset win over former middleweight champ Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is part of his 3-1 record. A 22-year difference in age is scaring some folks away from Silva, but his team said recently the 47-year-old is in the best shape of his life.
Boxing Betting Odds
Jake Paul -200
Anderson Silva +161
The 8-round cruiserweight fight between Jake Paul (5-0, 4 KOs) and Anderson Silva (3-1, 2 KOs) will be held at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, AZ on Saturday, October 29, 2022. This is the main event on a five-fight ticket scheduled to start at 9 p.m. ET on Showtime PPV.
Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva Fight Preview
I have to say it’s been hard to take Paul’s boxing career seriously. Maybe it’s because he hasn’t been serious about a lot of things in his life. And while his boxing career is off to a good start the level of competition so far has been questionable at best. It makes you wonder how a fight of this magnitude makes a pay-per-view segment. Well, Paul’s status as an internet celebrity, and I use that term loosely, has produced thousands of followers.
Without a doubt Saturday’s fight with Silva will be the biggest test of Paul’s young boxing career. For the first time he’s actually clashing with someone who has experience inside the ring. Paul KO’d collegiate wrestler Ben Askren and former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. In between those bouts was the first encounter with Woodley that resulted in a split decision victory.
Considering all the nonsense that follows Paul it does appear as though he’s taking this boxing thing seriously. And he’s eager to get back in the ring after recent scheduled bouts with Tommy Fury and Hasim Rahman Jr. were canceled. Paul’s greatest asset is his power, which was on display in the second Woodley fight when he canceled his opponent with a vicious overhead right. He set up Woodley with a steady diet of jabs in the earlier rounds before landing the knockout blow.
One thing Silva can, should and will do is exploit Paul’s lack of ring experience. Of course Silva is a newbie too, but he’s shown sound boxing sense in his few fights. His footwork was polished in a stunning split decision upset of Chavez Jr., which was followed by a first round KO of former UFC heavyweight champ Tito Ortiz. Known for his movement and striking ability, Silva is also a little bigger than Paul’s previous opponents, something that won’t go overlooked.
Also not getting overlooked is the age difference. At 47 Silva should be ending his combat sports career instead of embarking on a new endeavor. While it wasn’t an issue in his previous fights, Paul’s willingness to tangle and his desire to be viewed as a legitimate threat inside the ring are obstacles.
Jake Paul vs Anderson Silva Prediction
Though still a novice I think it’s safe to say Paul is a good boxer and wants to be better. He was upset that bouts with Fury and Rahman were canceled and is eager to take out his pent up aggression on the next person that joins him in the ring. Silva won’t be an easy out, but the age difference is something to consider and at closer look you could tell Chavez Jr. and Ortiz were in it for the payday. This is a good test for Paul but it’s also a test for Silva, who may be in pristine condition. He’s also close to 50 and has fewer fights under his belt. We saw Paul go from a clincher in his first fight with Woodley to a destroyer in the second, showing his ability to adapt and learn. The price isn’t too steep to back Paul on the moneyline.
Betting Pick: Jake Paul / KO
