Nate Robinson is taking his talents to the boxing ring. The former NBA star and three-time Slam Dunk Contest champion is planning to step into the ring on Sept. 12 to take on YouTube star Jake Paul.
The fight is expected to take place on the undercard of Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. in an eight-round exhibition in the main event.
“I wanted to show that I’m a world-class athlete,” Robinson told The Athletic’s Shams Charania in a statement. “I played college football, played in the NBA for 11 years, and I’m excited for this venture into the sport of boxing. Jake Paul, I want all the smoke.”
This fight will be one that won’t feature a ton of experience between both Robinson and Paul. Robinson will be making his boxing debut while Paul will be boxing for just the second time. Paul scored an opening-round TKO victory over fellow YouTube star AnEsonGib back in January.
How former NBA guard Nate Robinson ended up Mike Tyson's undercard. The NBA's lone 3-time Slam Dunk Contest champion Nate Robinson is lacing up a different type of shoe in 2020 as he prepares for his boxing debut. “I'm not taking it easy and going through the motions,” he said.🥊 pic.twitter.com/y71aTFEwBk
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) October 22, 2020
Robinson spent 12 seasons in the NBA and played for eight different NBA teams, including the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, and Denver Nuggets. The 5-foot-9 guard was drafted by the Knicks with the No. 21 pick in the 2005 NBA Draft following a stellar three-year career at the University of Washington.
Robinson hasn’t played professional basketball since playing in the Lebanese Basketball League in 2018. He signed with the team in July before being waived in September after he suffered an injury while playing in the BIG3 that summer.
It’s unclear what weight class the fight will be contested at. Robinson’s listed playing weight in the NBA was 180 pounds while Paul came in at 192.8 pounds for his debut in the cruiserweight division. In addition to the size advantage, Paul will have a four-inch height advantage over Robinson at 6-1.
