It seems everyone wants a piece of Jake Paul these days.
Recently retired from the UFC, Uriah Hall is lacing up the boxing gloves to take on three-time NFL Pro Bowl running back Le’Veon Bell in a bout on Oct. 29 that will serve as the first pro boxing bout for both men. The event takes place at Footprint Center in Phoenix, and headlining the event will be the aforementioned Paul taking on MMA legend Anderson Silva.
Coincidentally, Hall prompted Silva’s UFC retirement after finishing him in the fourth round of their UFC Fight Night 181 headlining bout two years ago. Now both men find themselves competing in the boxing ring, and Hall would like a piece of Silva’s upcoming opponent in the near future.
During a pre-fight press conference on Thursday, Hall was asked why he decided to return to combat sports competition after retiring from MMA just three months ago.
“Fight Jake Paul,” Hall responded. “… I’m a competitor, man. This is a different stage. I’ve boxed before. Actually, a long time ago I did some amateur boxing. I said, ‘Listen, pique my interest to do something like this.’ My coach did, so I was like, okay, I’ll do it. I’m a competitor.”
Hall retired from MMA competition after a unanimous decision loss to Andre Muniz at UFC 276. It was his second loss in a row, and he decided it was time to walk away after 19 bouts in the UFC. However, his competitive nature flared when he had the opportunity to box against Bell, who knocked out fellow ex-NFL running back Adrian Peterson in an amateur bout in September.
As for why Paul is on his radar should he get past Bell, Hall points to an online exchange that occurred in the past, combined with a challenge against someone who is making waves in the boxing scene.
@jakepaul you are straight bitch too you pussy if I ever see you in the street Iima slap the taste out of your mouth 👋🏾 🤡
— URIAHHALL (@UriaHHallMMA) June 7, 2021
“It’s exciting,” Hall said. “We had some online exchange a long time ago and I just want to show him what a real fight is. I mean, it’s boxing. I personally feel that I can beat any boxer in the world. All I gotta do is kick ’em. That’s a real fight. But I’ve been in boxing gyms before where I’ve tried to learn stuff, a long time ago before I tamed my ego.
“Guys, especially at boxing gyms, always have this thing against MMA fighters. I’m there to learn, I’m a student. That’s how I approached it. I’m there to learn, and these guys are just coming at me. I’m like, okay it’s a fight, no problem. I start kicking these motherf*ckers. I started low kicks, spinning kicks, and they jumped like, ‘Woah, what are you doing?’ I’m like, ‘Oh, I’m sorry, I thought this was a real fight.’ I’m here to learn. I just love to step outside of my comfort zone.”
Bell showed interest in fighting Paul in the future as well, although he said he is not “just limited to that.”
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