- Teddy Atlas thinks Jake Paul could beat Nate Diaz
- The boxing trainer and analyst pointed out what Francis Ngannou needs to do to possibly knock Tyson Fury out
Veteran boxing analyst Teddy Atlas weighed in on the upcoming Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz boxing match and the highly-anticipated superfight between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou.
Teddy picks Jake
Speaking to DC & RC, Atlas pointed out that Paul has not reached Diaz’s level yet as a professional fighter. However, he is confident that the YouTuber-turned-boxing star’s style could get the job done.
“He’s a work in progress. He’s getting better and he has raised his game to a certain level. He’s not that bad. I mean I’m not getting crazy and putting him in there [with] guys that have been boxing for years at a certain level, he’s lost his first fight right but it was boxing throughout his whole career and he wasn’t an older guy so I get it but he was competitive… you gotta give him credit. He’s fighting all pros, yeah older guys, MMA guys that aren’t necessarily great strikers, their strength is more on the grappling, on on the floor, but they’re still pro athletes, they’re still pro fighters. They can go into an uncalm arena and be calm. They can put the fear and all the things that can paralyze other people, put it to the side and they can go and find a way to get to you he’s dealing with those guys that have a PhD in that. He hasn’t gotten a PhD in that, Nate Diaz has a PhD in that and because of that PhD you can’t rule Diaz out because of that,” Atlas began.
“I think I’m picking Paul to win the fight and the reason I pick him to win the fight is he has developed himself but enough and I’ll make it real simple, he throws straight up punches than Diaz,” he added. “He gets a straight jab, I think that could control Diaz on the outside and he’s got the straight right hand and sometimes Diaz breaks the rules, he breaks the laws in the ring where he throws wide punches right in front of you and if you throw wide punch you don’t need me to tell you, you learned that geometry did you? I learned that too, straight beats round and so one thing Paul has gotten down where you throw those punches nice and straight he’s got a good job with that. That and the experience that he’s gained where again, he doesn’t fall apart in that domain. He has never been with Diaz in that domain but he’ll be good enough good enough to again with another fight, I believe.”
Francis needs to practice the Delivery
As for Fury vs. Ngannou, Atlas flat-out declared that there’s no way the former UFC heavyweight champion is outboxing “The Gypsy King.” However, Atlas explained that the key for Ngannou is not to focus on boxing with Fury. Instead, “The Predator” should learn the “fundamentals” in order to know when to throw that “big punch” that could knock Fury out.
“Listen, you gotta be real, you gotta be practical, you gotta be real about it. What does that mean? that means you’re not gonna make him [Ngannou] a better boxer than a guy who’s been boxing since he’s a kid all his life, you’re not gonna do that,” Atlas commented. “But I tell you what it doesn’t mean it doesn’t mean that you don’t teach the fundamentals… I don’t care if he punches like freaking Godzilla, it doesn’t matter unless he has a delivery system, enough fundamentals. We’re not fooling ourselves, he ain’t gonna get to Fury’s level but enough fundamentals, enough tricks, give him a couple tricks in the bag, to land that big punch.”
Paul is coming off a decision loss to Tommy Fury but he is confident he could stop Diaz within six or seven rounds. The two will square off this weekend at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas.
On the other hand, Ngannou will make his pro boxing debut against the undefeated WBC heavyweight champ Fury on October 28 in Saudi Arabia.
