Nate Robinson doesn’t have fond memories of his time in the boxing ring with Jake Paul.
He lost in devastating fashion with a knockout that had a commentary from Snoop Dogg blared around the world, quickly becoming a viral moment because Robinson was publicly adamant that he’d win.
But five years later, after a health scare that nearly ended his life, Robinson is heaping the praises of Paul.
Robinson spoke to Heavy.com in association with casino.org, where you can review online gambling, about Paul and more, including a health update after almost losing his life. Read the entire interview here.
GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 28: Jake Paul reacts over his knockout victory against Nate Robinson in the second round during Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr. presented by Triller at Staples Center on November 28, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Triller)
Nate Robinson Says Tank Davis Would Have Struggled
Robinson’s lone professional boxing match took place in November 2020, during the pandemic, against Paul, known as “The Problem Child.” The bout served as Paul’s breakout moment. Since then, he has built a 12-1 record largely by defeating retired fighters, including a then-58-year-old Mike Tyson.
At 28, Paul has become a major figure in the boxing world, drawing new audiences to the sport. However, his decision to avoid active professional boxers drew criticism—culminating in his split-decision loss to Tommy Fury, a legitimate pro.
He was originally scheduled to face Gervonta “Tank” Davis later this month, but the bout was canceled after an ex-girlfriend filed a civil lawsuit against Davis alleging assault. Davis, 31, is one of boxing’s biggest stars and remains undefeated. Despite the size difference, he confidently predicted that Paul would lose.
Robinson, however, disagreed. He likened the matchup to a hypothetical showdown between Floyd Mayweather and Mike Tyson in their primes, arguing that Davis’s smaller stature would have posed a serious disadvantage.
“They have weight classes for a reason,” Robinson said. “You tell me Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather jump in a ring, who do you think is gonna win that fight?”
Nate Robinson Says Jake Paul is ‘Doing What He’s Supposed to Do’
Robinson now praises Paul, saying despite the critics, he’s on a solid path and bringing attention to boxing.
“He’s out there trying to do what people say he can’t do,” Robinson said. “I know the people and the fans want to see him fight a legit boxer. So, the Tank Davis thing would have been cool to see happen.
“He’s out here doing what he’s supposed to do. I don’t know why people are so, everything looks fake. The internet has done that. The internet has made people think and question everything that they see.”
Jake Paul Looks For New Fighter After Cancellation
The lawsuit against Davis, filed last week by his ex-girlfriend Courtney Rossel, accuses Davis of battery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Just a few days later, the fight was called off.
After the fight was canceled, Paul tore into Davis on his Instagram Stories, calling him “an actual walking human piece of garbage.”
With the cancellation, Paul and his promotion company, Most Valuable Promotions, are now searching for a new opponent. Paul and UFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou exchanged verbal jabs after Ngannou dismissed the idea of replacing Davis, calling the proposal “disrespectful.”
Earlier this year, Paul was in talks to face Canelo Álvarez, but Álvarez ultimately chose to fight Terence Crawford instead. Other potential opponents mentioned for Paul include Edgar Berlanga and Anthony Joshua.
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