Leaked Sparring Footage Ignites Controversy Ahead of Nate Diaz vs Jake Paul Showdown
Just a little over three weeks prior to his clash with Jake Paul, leaked video footage of Nate Diaz's boxing sparring has surfaced online, creating quite the stir amongst fans. The footage, which has recently popped up on various social media platforms, offers a sneak peek into Diaz's training regimen for his forthcoming boxing match against YouTube sensation Jake Paul, scheduled for August 5 in Dallas, Texas. As part of his preparation, Diaz had a sparring session with Esquiva Falcao, a 2012 Olympic silver medalist with a professional record of 30-1. The video is believed to have been shot last month when Falcao was gearing up for his IBF world middleweight title fight in Germany against Vincenzo Gualtieri, a match he unfortunately lost by unanimous decision after 12 rounds. Despite being a respected figure in the UFC, Diaz seemed to fail in impressing Falcao during their spar. This becomes significant as Diaz is gearing up for his maiden boxing outing against Paul. Falcao's reflections on the spar were less than flattering: “At first I thought he was tired, and in the end, it looked like he was dying,” Falcao shared. “His fighting style is crazy. You look at him and say, ‘Oh, he’s tired,’ and then we started sparring. [Coach] Robert [Garcia] told me in the second round, ‘He’s tired already, hold back a little bit and keep the rhythm, so he does at least 10 rounds.' “I held back and kept boxing, and we did 12 rounds. He was tired, but taking punches and throwing, too. [He] is bad, [he] is bad, but since he’s too heavy — he’s overweight, probably around 220 pounds or more — and I’m the only big guy in the gym, I had to do it. But I liked doing it." Falcao's claims have sparked discussions regarding Diaz's fitness, considering he has never fought at over 170lbs, and Paul, his opponent, fights at 185lbs and also has an advantage in terms of age and size. Diaz's renowned cardio levels might not be able to help him if he is indeed, as Falcao suggests, bringing an extra 40 pounds into the contest. However, these remarks from Falcao didn't go unnoticed. Chris Avila, a longtime teammate of Diaz, responded on The MMA Hour: “Bro, that guy got f***** up,” Avila retaliated. Avila will also be stepping into the ring on August 5, sharing the fight card with the Diaz vs Paul bout, where he will be squaring off against UFC veteran Jeremy Stephens. The leaked sparring footage and the subsequent remarks have only added to the anticipation surrounding the upcoming Diaz vs Paul fight, making it one of the most talked-about boxing events of the year.
