The YouTube personality, who stopped the retired NBA player on the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr. card last Saturday, is being called out from multiple corners of the sports world.
Among those who want to fight the 2-0 novice: Ben Askren (MMA), Le’Veon Bell (NFL), Evander Kane (NHL), Anthony Ogogo (pro wrestling), and Antonio Tarver (boxing). And, perhaps more significantly, Paul desperately wants to fight [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] (MMA).
Of course, McGregor has already proved to be a lucrative foil. He and Floyd Mayweather took part in a crossover fight that generated a fortune for both men. It’s not surprising that Paul would want a piece of that.
“I am dedicating my life to beating Conor McGregor,” Paul told ESPN. “Financially, it already makes sense. Financially, I’m already one of the biggest prizefighters, and there’s only a couple more bosses to check off and to beat and to conquer.”
Paul has also expressed interest in facing other MMA stars, including Askren.
“I want to bring MMA fighters into the boxing ring and embarrass them,” Paul said.
“The Russian Hammer” Artem Lobov chats to MMA Junkie Radio’s “Gorgeous” George Garcia and Brian “Goze” Garcia ahead of his MMA return at Arena Fight 2 and his plans to transition to boxing in 2021.
“The Russian Hammer” Artem Lobov chats to MMA Junkie Radio’s “Gorgeous” George Garcia and Brian “Goze” Garcia ahead of his MMA return at Arena Fight 2 and his plans to transition to boxing in 2021.
The popular Twitter account, Overtime, shared a video on Thursday of Kansas City Chiefs running back Le’Veon Bell going through some boxing training at a gym. And the account wondered in a tweet if Bell could beat Paul in this hypothetical bout.
Well, Bell seems to be more than onboard with the idea.
Bell responded to the tweet to say, “Like I said, set it up.”
Following his win over Robinson, Paul had specifically called out UFC star Conor McGregor as a potential next opponent. But unlike Robinson — who is, uh, a retired basketball player — Paul would almost certainly have a tougher time against an MMA legend who at least sorta held his own in the ring with Floyd Mayweather.
I mean what fighter with this big of a platform is calling out Mcgregor?
ITS GONNA HAPPEN. YOU WILL ALL SEE. @AudieAttar I’ll call you this week
Nate Robinson thanked his supporters after his knockout loss to Jake Paul on Saturday in Los Angeles.
Nate Robinson took a lot of ribbing after he was brutally knocked out in two rounds by Jake Paul in a farcical fight on the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr. card Saturday in Los Angeles.
He also received support, particularly from those closest to him in his NBA career.
Robinson thanked them on Instagram:
“I need to thank all my brothers for the support! There are too many to name, and IG only lets me choose 10 pics … but I’ve seen every one of you. HUGE shout out to my brother KG (Kevin Garnett) for being there, and all of y’all that have reached out to me PERSONALLY … Mike Bibby, Carlos Arroyo, Bonzi Wells, Malik Rose, everyone in these pics, etc. It means the world and we’re gonna come back even better.”
Earlier, he indicated on Instagram that he was fine.
“Thank you everyone for all of the well wishes, I’m OK. I appreciate @triller for the opportunity as well as everyone that has backed me during the fight. To my coaches, trainers, fans, and teammates, I appreciate all of the time and support you guys put in with me…it wasn’t the outcome that we wanted, but I’m thankful for the opportunity to fight on the biggest stage that there has been.”
Robinson, 36, seemed to indicate in his later message — “We’re gonna come back even better” — that he plans to fight again.
Robinson has been in the gym learning the fundamentals but his fight with Paul was his first. He seemed overwhelmed by the moment and to say he fought amateurishly is generous.
Still, he evidently plans to fight again. That’s either misguided or admirable. You decide.
Nate Robinson thanked his supporters after his knockout loss to Jake Paul on Saturday in Los Angeles.
Nate Robinson took a lot of ribbing after he was brutally knocked out in two rounds by Jake Paul in a farcical fight on the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr. card Saturday in Los Angeles.
He also received support, particularly from those closest to him in his NBA career.
Robinson thanked them on Instagram:
“I need to thank all my brothers for the support! There are too many to name, and IG only lets me choose 10 pics … but I’ve seen every one of you. HUGE shout out to my brother KG (Kevin Garnett) for being there, and all of y’all that have reached out to me PERSONALLY … Mike Bibby, Carlos Arroyo, Bonzi Wells, Malik Rose, everyone in these pics, etc. It means the world and we’re gonna come back even better.”
Earlier, he indicated on Instagram that he was fine.
“Thank you everyone for all of the well wishes, I’m OK. I appreciate @triller for the opportunity as well as everyone that has backed me during the fight. To my coaches, trainers, fans, and teammates, I appreciate all of the time and support you guys put in with me…it wasn’t the outcome that we wanted, but I’m thankful for the opportunity to fight on the biggest stage that there has been.”
Robinson, 36, seemed to indicate in his later message — “We’re gonna come back even better” — that he plans to fight again.
Robinson has been in the gym learning the fundamentals but his fight with Paul was his first. He seemed overwhelmed by the moment and to say he fought amateurishly is generous.
Still, he evidently plans to fight again. That’s either misguided or admirable. You decide.
The Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr. exhibition was mildly entertaining, which was a pleasant surprise.
A critical look at the past week in boxing
GOOD
Snoop Dogg was refreshing and entertaining as a guest commentator. Joe Scarnici / Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports
No one got hurt. And it was mildly entertaining. Not a bad night for Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr., as well as those who paid to watch them.
I wasn’t looking forward to the exhibition even a little bit but I had to watch it because I do this. I was around when Tyson regained the heavyweight championship and Jones was the best fighter on the planet, which were special times. The geezers we saw on Saturday in Los Angeles were different people.
Tyson, 54, looked a little like the Tyson of old, physically imposing, kind of quick for an old guy. Jones, 51, was less the fighter of old, although he showed flashes of the sublime athlete he once was.
In the end, it was the equivalent of a baseball old-timers game, a unusual opportunity to watch one-time heroes do their thing just one more time, which isn’t so bad.
Tyson says he plans to do it again. That’s fine if he and his dance partner fight as he and Jones fought on Saturday, throwing a few punches, holding more than would normally be tolerated, not trying to kill each other and generally having a little fun over eight two-minute rounds.
And we won’t have to endure the same level of pre-fight hype, as the novelty of Tyson returning to the ring will have worn off. That’s a good thing.
Honestly, I dread the thought of having to watch another old-boxers game — if any sport is for the young, it’s this one — but, hey, to be honest, I’ve seen worse fights.
A few more observations …
I was a little disappointed at Jones’ conditioning. He was gassed before the first round was over, which told me that he put in the bare-minimum effort in the months leading up to the fight. If you’re going to do this, do it right.
I also have to applaud the production, which was avant-garde (swearing? pot smoking?) but entertaining. The marriage of hip-hop and boxing worked well. And guest commentator Snoop Dogg was brilliant, serving up some legitimate observations but mostly refreshing comedy.
I rarely laugh at the corny jokes of boxing broadcasters but I LOL’d when Snoop said as the main event got underway, “This s— is like two of my uncles fighting at the barbeque.” And his singing when Robinson went down the second time was hilarious.
Someone needs to hire that guy to do more work as a boxing commentator.
All it all, Tyson-Jones was fun.
***
BAD
Daniel Jacobs (left) simply didn’t bring any passion into the ring. Ed Mulholland / Matchroom Boxing
Daniel Jacobs on Friday gave one of the more curious efforts in recent memory.
On paper, his super middleweight fight against Gabriel Rosado was a mismatch. Jacobs is seen as a refined, experienced former middleweight champion with power while Rosado is known more for his toughness than his ability.
That’s not how it played out. Jacobs, as flat as he has ever looked, sleepwalked his way to a split-decision victory that easily could’ve gone the other way behind closed doors at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.
What the hell happened?
Jacobs provided a hint in his post-fight interview, saying the fight felt like a sparring session. And it’s hard to get up for a sparring session, especially against an opponent you know isn’t in your league.
Jacobs evidently felt that all he had to do was show up and he’d win. He turned out to be right – barely. Rosado isn’t a star but he’s a solid, durable fighter who can cause trouble if given the opportunity, as we saw on Friday.
I was surprised by Jacobs’ performance. One, I thought of him as a disciplined professional who would never give less than his best. And, two, there was a lot at stake for him. He had to win to set up big-money fights next year.
Everyone has off nights. And the fact it happened during these strange times makes it somewhat more understandable. Still, I thought it was appropriate that Jacobs apologized after the fight.
“I apologize to all the fans who expected a more [entertaining] fight,” he said.
Apology accepted. Don’t let it happen again.
***
WORSE
Nate Robinson might want to rethink his foray into boxing. Joe Scarnici / Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports
It’s easy to joke about the fate of Nate Robinson on the Tyson-Jones card.
The former NBA player talked a good game before his celebrity fight against YouTube personality Jake Paul but fell flat on his face – literally – after the bell rang to start their amateurish cruiserweight fight.
Paul is a crude boxer who had fought only once before Saturday but he has spent quite a bit of time in the gym. He’s gaining an idea of how things work in this sport. Robinson? Clueless.
The one-time slam dunk contest champion, who supposedly has learned the basics, seemed to be overwhelmed by the moment. He swung wildly and then rushing toward Paul, holding on to him for dear life. Paul was poised and savvy enough to wait for opportunities and thenpounced when they presented themselves.
He put Robinson down three times with right hands, the last of which knocked him flat on his face and ended the fight in the second round.
For Paul, it was a great night. He seems to be serious about boxing and made a strong impression. For Robinson, a once-elite athlete, it was nothing short of an embarrassment.
I don’t want to criticize California officials for licensing Robinson or sanctioning the fight. Many athletes from other sports have given boxing a try, usually with little to no success. Robinson won’t be the last, unfortunately.
That said, if Robinson had been seriously injured – and he could’ve been – you could be sure that authorities would rethink their approach to celebrity matchups. Maybe they should count their blessings and do so anyway.
The Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr. exhibition was mildly entertaining, which was a pleasant surprise.
A critical look at the past week in boxing
GOOD
Snoop Dogg was refreshing and entertaining as a guest commentator. Joe Scarnici / Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports
No one got hurt. And it was mildly entertaining. Not a bad night for Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr., as well as those who paid to watch them.
I wasn’t looking forward to the exhibition even a little bit but I had to watch it because I do this. I was around when Tyson regained the heavyweight championship and Jones was the best fighter on the planet, which were special times. The geezers we saw on Saturday in Los Angeles were different people.
Tyson, 54, looked a little like the Tyson of old, physically imposing, kind of quick for an old guy. Jones, 51, was less the fighter of old, although he showed flashes of the sublime athlete he once was.
In the end, it was the equivalent of a baseball old-timers game, a unusual opportunity to watch one-time heroes do their thing just one more time, which isn’t so bad.
Tyson says he plans to do it again. That’s fine if he and his dance partner fight as he and Jones fought on Saturday, throwing a few punches, holding more than would normally be tolerated, not trying to kill each other and generally having a little fun over eight two-minute rounds.
And we won’t have to endure the same level of pre-fight hype, as the novelty of Tyson returning to the ring will have worn off. That’s a good thing.
Honestly, I dread the thought of having to watch another old-boxers game — if any sport is for the young, it’s this one — but, hey, to be honest, I’ve seen worse fights.
A few more observations …
I was a little disappointed at Jones’ conditioning. He was gassed before the first round was over, which told me that he put in the bare-minimum effort in the months leading up to the fight. If you’re going to do this, do it right.
I also have to applaud the production, which was avant-garde (swearing? pot smoking?) but entertaining. The marriage of hip-hop and boxing worked well. And guest commentator Snoop Dogg was brilliant, serving up some legitimate observations but mostly refreshing comedy.
I rarely laugh at the corny jokes of boxing broadcasters but I LOL’d when Snoop said as the main event got underway, “This s— is like two of my uncles fighting at the barbeque.” And his singing when Robinson went down the second time was hilarious.
Someone needs to hire that guy to do more work as a boxing commentator.
All it all, Tyson-Jones was fun.
***
BAD
Daniel Jacobs (left) simply didn’t bring any passion into the ring. Ed Mulholland / Matchroom Boxing
Daniel Jacobs on Friday gave one of the more curious efforts in recent memory.
On paper, his super middleweight fight against Gabriel Rosado was a mismatch. Jacobs is seen as a refined, experienced former middleweight champion with power while Rosado is known more for his toughness than his ability.
That’s not how it played out. Jacobs, as flat as he has ever looked, sleepwalked his way to a split-decision victory that easily could’ve gone the other way behind closed doors at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.
What the hell happened?
Jacobs provided a hint in his post-fight interview, saying the fight felt like a sparring session. And it’s hard to get up for a sparring session, especially against an opponent you know isn’t in your league.
Jacobs evidently felt that all he had to do was show up and he’d win. He turned out to be right – barely. Rosado isn’t a star but he’s a solid, durable fighter who can cause trouble if given the opportunity, as we saw on Friday.
I was surprised by Jacobs’ performance. One, I thought of him as a disciplined professional who would never give less than his best. And, two, there was a lot at stake for him. He had to win to set up big-money fights next year.
Everyone has off nights. And the fact it happened during these strange times makes it somewhat more understandable. Still, I thought it was appropriate that Jacobs apologized after the fight.
“I apologize to all the fans who expected a more [entertaining] fight,” he said.
Apology accepted. Don’t let it happen again.
***
WORSE
Nate Robinson might want to rethink his foray into boxing. Joe Scarnici / Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports
It’s easy to joke about the fate of Nate Robinson on the Tyson-Jones card.
The former NBA player talked a good game before his celebrity fight against YouTube personality Jake Paul but fell flat on his face – literally – after the bell rang to start their amateurish cruiserweight fight.
Paul is a crude boxer who had fought only once before Saturday but he has spent quite a bit of time in the gym. He’s gaining an idea of how things work in this sport. Robinson? Clueless.
The one-time slam dunk contest champion, who supposedly has learned the basics, seemed to be overwhelmed by the moment. He swung wildly and then rushing toward Paul, holding on to him for dear life. Paul was poised and savvy enough to wait for opportunities and thenpounced when they presented themselves.
He put Robinson down three times with right hands, the last of which knocked him flat on his face and ended the fight in the second round.
For Paul, it was a great night. He seems to be serious about boxing and made a strong impression. For Robinson, a once-elite athlete, it was nothing short of an embarrassment.
I don’t want to criticize California officials for licensing Robinson or sanctioning the fight. Many athletes from other sports have given boxing a try, usually with little to no success. Robinson won’t be the last, unfortunately.
That said, if Robinson had been seriously injured – and he could’ve been – you could be sure that authorities would rethink their approach to celebrity matchups. Maybe they should count their blessings and do so anyway.
Current and former members of the Philadelphia 76ers reacted to the Nate Robinson knockout as well as Snoop Dogg’s commentary.
Boxing has always been a sport that attracts a lot of hype. From the weigh in to the training to the trash-talking, there is always a lot involved with the fight even for the undercards to the main event. On Saturday, the main event was Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr., but the undercard received a lot of attention as well.
The undercard was an interesting one on Saturday night as it included former NBA player Nate Robinson taking on former YouTuber Jake Paul so it had a few celebrities going at it. There was a lot of interest in this one from current and former NBA players, for obvious reasons.
Unfortunately, the fight lasted all of 1 round as Paul hit Robinson with a brutal right hook in Round 2 and knocked him out. The knockout had some reactions from the Philadelphia 76ers as Joel Embiid was definitely watching.
Former Sixers guard Evan Turner, who was the 2nd overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft, saw Robinson go down, and now he wants to get in the ring with Paul as well.
On top of the craziness that went down on the field, there was commentary from rapper Snoop Dogg and his reactions were legendary. He translated his brilliance on the microphone to the commentary on the fights and rookie Tyrese Maxey was loving it.
Richardson went so far as to make a plea to ESPN to get them to sign him.
Can we just take a moment to remember that Snoop commentated a fight, performed some fire songs and then commentated another fight immediately after performing last night. ESPN SIGN THIS MAN PLEASE .!!
It was clear that Saturday night was a lot of fun and that Snoop Dogg needs to commentate an NBA game at some point. [lawrence-related id=39613,39610,39594]
Prior to Nate Robinson’s boxing match against Jake Paul, Steph Curry and Eric Paschall weighed in on Twitter to support the NBA Veteran.
Before the start of training camp, the basketball community tuned in for a highly-anticipated boxing match. On Saturday night, former NBA guard Nate Robinson laced up his boxing gloves for a bout against YouTube star Jake Paul.
Prior to the start of the super-fight, members of the Golden State Warriors chimed in on social media. Before Robinson stepped into the ring, Stephen Curry and Eric Paschall showed support for the 11-year NBA veteran.
Despite the support, the fight did not end well for the three-time Slam Dunk contest champion. After a sloppy start to the fight, Robinson was knocked out in the second round with one vicious right hand from Paul, ending the contest with 1:25 remaining in the second round. Robinson dropped flat to the canvas as the referee stepped in.
After the fight, Curry and Paschall reacted to Paul’s violent knockout over Robinson on Twitter.
During the 2011-2012 season, Robinson spent 51 games with Golden State, averaging 11.2 points on 42.4% shooting from the field with 4.5 assists, two rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. Over his stint in the Bay Area, Robinson shot 36.5% shooting from beyond the arc.
Against the Spurs, Robinson led the Warriors off the bench with a 30 point performance on 11-of-20 shooting from the field. Robinson added seven assists, two boards and a steal in 31 minutes.
Coming off a loss to Paul, the 36-year-old will now have to decide if he will still pursue a stint in boxing or return to the court.
