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For 60 years, a hotline aims to keep cool between US and Moscow
For 60 years, a hotline aims to keep cool between US and Moscow
Sixty years ago, a crisis hotline for the first time sent a message between the...
2023-08-30 09:24
Crypto lender Celsius sends bankruptcy plan to creditor vote
Crypto lender Celsius sends bankruptcy plan to creditor vote
By Dietrich Knauth NEW YORK Crypto lender Celsius Network on Monday received a U.S. bankruptcy judge's permission to
2023-08-15 03:55
Spain’s Calvino Would Welcome End of ECB Rate-Hike Aggression
Spain’s Calvino Would Welcome End of ECB Rate-Hike Aggression
Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Nadia Calvino said she’d welcome an immediate end to European Central Bank rate hikes.
2023-09-05 00:52
Tommy Fleetwood carries home hopes as the English seek a first British Open winner since 1992
Tommy Fleetwood carries home hopes as the English seek a first British Open winner since 1992
Tommy Fleetwood has experience of seeing a wave of support carry a home favorite all the way to the claret jug
2023-07-20 02:12
Jake Paul’s latest fight is not about Jake Paul
Jake Paul’s latest fight is not about Jake Paul
Raise your hand if you thought Jake Paul’s boxing venture had come to an end with his loss to Tommy Fury in February. It’s okay, you don’t look silly; you weren’t the only one. So, go on: Raise that hand, nod your head, or let out a sigh. You don’t have to carry the burden anymore. Many believed that fight marked the endgame of this particular endeavour, even before it had played out. A win would have allowed the YouTube star, 26, to say he had beaten a professional boxer, after several wins against mixed martial artists; a loss would have signalled the dissipation of any momentum and intrigue that the American had built over the last few years. Except even in defeat by Fury – a points loss to the half-brother of world heavyweight champion Tyson – a degree of intrigue has remained, though Paul’s momentum did indeed take a hit. In the lead-up to that bout in Saudi Arabia, Paul had already hinted that his next challenge could be a boxing match with Nate Diaz, who left the UFC with the most unique of legacies in September. Paul’s plan, of course, was to defeat Fury, stay unbeaten, then move on to face Diaz, but the master promoter has managed to stay on track in spite of his loss. In Dallas this Saturday, Paul will take on Diaz in another fight that will be deemed a circus act but that will nonetheless attract a significant audience. This time, it could be argued, Diaz is doing the heavy lifting, which may sound ironic given the American’s trademark apathy in the run-up to the fight. That’s because the focus of this Jake Paul fight is different than the focus of the last Jake Paul fight. When Paul fought Fury, the narrative centred on whether the divisive social-media star could actually beat a ‘proper boxer’, even though Fury’s pedigree does not line up with his lineage. That question, which had existed for years, was finally answered in Diriyah, leaving Paul’s detractors delighted. Now, though, it is not about how Paul will fare; the intrigue surrounds Diaz, and it comes from the MMA community. This does actually provide a familiar feeling around a Paul fight, if not his bout with Fury. In previous outings, Paul knocked out ex-UFC champion Tyron Woodley after outpointing him in their first fight; he knocked out Ben Askren, who was an MMA champion before joining the UFC, and he beat the consensus greatest MMA striker of all time – Anderson Silva – via decision. Each opponent was willed by MMA fans to stop this ‘pretender’, Paul, from making a mockery of their preferred sport, even though Paul’s success against these athletes said very little about MMA and how the YouTuber would fare in a cage fight. Even so, MMA fans feel similarly about Diaz’s contest with Paul, and perhaps even more strongly, such is the adoration that most have for the 38-year-old. Silva, too, is adored by the community, while Askren and Woodley are divisive in their own ways but command respect nonetheless. Yet they all failed against Paul. There were asterisks, admittedly: Silva was 47, while Askren and Woodley are ageing wrestlers. Askren had even retired from competition and Woodley was on a brutal losing streak. So, how does Diaz compare? The welterweight’s record has always been mixed, with the American becoming a fan favourite for his personality, soundbites and style, rather than for any significant winning streak or title triumph. The Californian’s jiu-jitsu is his greatest asset, though his cardio and volume striking have aided him significantly. In 2016, when he stepped in at late notice and submitted Conor McGregor, Diaz achieved mainstream popularity. When he narrowly lost the pair’s highly-anticipated rematch five months later, his star hardly fell. His octagon outings have been sporadic in the years since: an impressive points win against ex-lightweight champion Anthony Pettis in August 2019, a TKO loss to Jorge Masvidal three months later – when Diaz’s so-often-leaky blood betrayed him and forced a doctor stoppage – and a decision defeat by soon-to-be welterweight champion Leon Edwards in 2021. Then, of course, came his fitting UFC exit on the night he submitted Tony Ferguson. A key reason for Diaz’s decision to leave the UFC was a dispute over his pay – the same issue that many fighters have raised in recent years, but one that Diaz had additional ammo to combat, given his pulling power. Even so, he didn’t make much of a dent in the UFC’s armour, and the option of a clash with Paul made too much sense to ignore. That is, in a monetary sense at least. In other regards, this is a dangerous proposition. Diaz is 12 years Paul’s senior, and while his boxing fundamentals are solid, he is not known as an out-and-out striker. Furthermore, he is especially prone to suffering cuts, which cost him against Masvidal – although he was admittedly losing that fight anyway. It may yet cost him against Paul. Many MMA fans fear an unceremonious end for Diaz in this fight, much as the veteran is known for his perseverance. Maybe such an end will not come via the sort of one-punch KO that ruined Woodley, but maybe it will come courtesy of a doctor deeming Diaz unfit to continue. Then again, maybe it won’t come at all. “The thing about [Paul] is, he knows that MMA fighters can’t box and they’re in over their heads,” Diaz said on Wednesday, “because he went in there and worked a bunch over in training and in fights. MMA fighters don’t know this, but the thing about that is: I’m in on the same secret, and I’ve been in on that since I was 15. I’m not your average wrestler, MMA fighter. When these guys he fought were in the wrestling room at five, six, seven, 10, 15 years old, I was boxing the whole neighbourhood, boxing every pro I could find. I was boxing the highest level I could find, my whole career.” Diaz believes that will be the difference this weekend. The MMA community will hope it is. Read More Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz live stream: How to watch fight online and on TV this weekend Nate Diaz reveals ‘secret’ that he and Jake Paul share The hidden side of Jake Paul
2023-08-04 14:55
Fed's Powell gets an earful about inflation and interest rates from small businesses
Fed's Powell gets an earful about inflation and interest rates from small businesses
Federal Reserve officials typically gather many of their insights and observations about the economy from some of the top Ph.D. economists in Washington
2023-10-03 03:56
Airship Finds Most Consumers Actively Seek To Minimize Mobile Distractions
Airship Finds Most Consumers Actively Seek To Minimize Mobile Distractions
PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 6, 2023--
2023-09-06 18:02
Core inflation in Japan's capital seen slowing sharply in July -analysts
Core inflation in Japan's capital seen slowing sharply in July -analysts
TOKYO Core inflation in Japan's capital likely stayed above the central bank's 2% target but slowed sharply in
2023-07-21 09:59
Spanish star Iniesta 'opens new page' with Emirates
Spanish star Iniesta 'opens new page' with Emirates
Spanish football legend Andres Iniesta on Wednesday became the latest marquee name to commit his career finale to the Gulf by signing for Emirates FC...
2023-08-10 00:41
Thailand's Pita fails in PM bid after losing parliament vote
Thailand's Pita fails in PM bid after losing parliament vote
BANGKOK Thailand's Pita Limjaroenrat failed on Thursday in his initial bid to become Thailand's next prime minister, after
2023-07-13 18:52
Greece reinforces firefighting forces as a massive wildfire in the northeast burns for a 13th day
Greece reinforces firefighting forces as a massive wildfire in the northeast burns for a 13th day
Greek authorities have reinforced firefighting forces in the country’s northeast as a massive blaze flared up again and burned for a 13th day
2023-08-31 19:32
Mac Jones' struggles in loss to Colts leaves Patriots QB situation unclear going into bye week
Mac Jones' struggles in loss to Colts leaves Patriots QB situation unclear going into bye week
The New England Patriots’ 10-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts leaves quarterback Mac Jones potentially facing a lot of questions on a long flight back from Germany
2023-11-13 04:06