VIDEO | Former boxing champ challenges “redneck, coward” Nick Diaz to a fight

Over the last few months, the age-old boxing vs. UFC debate has reached a fever pitch, as a handful of stars from the two sports have called each other out. Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor are chomping at the bit to fight each other. Roy Jones Jr. and Anderson Silva seem down to go at it in the boxing ring. UFC light heavyweight Jimi Manuwa recently called out boxing star David Haye. The list goes on.

The latest UFC fighter to have his name mentioned in this narrative is Stockton, California’s Nick Diaz. Diaz, who has not been seen in the cage since January of 2015, was lambasted by former WBC and IBO champ Jean Pascal. Pascal made his scathing callout of Diaz in an interview with TMZ.

“UFC fighters always say that they can fight, they can box, but I don’t see that,” he said. “Nick Diaz talks a lot of trash. He’s never had someone who can talk back to him like I can do.”

Pascal then explained that he’d be happy to fight Diaz in the Octagon, but only under boxing rules.

“Yeah, but with boxing rules,” he explained. “Because they claim they’re fighters. They claim they can box. I don’t claim I can go on the floor, but anyway, to go on the ground with another man, it’s not my thing. I’d rather go on the ground with a woman. To go on the floor with a man, that’s not my thing, man, I’m sorry.”

“I’m pretty sure that I can whoop his ass because I’m a fighter. I’m not a UFC wrestler. I fight with my fists. I’m standing up, and we’ve got boxing rules. Boxing, it’s an art. I can tell Nick Diaz, ‘why don’t you come out of your redneck country and fight me in a real city like Montreal’. Cause that shit can be sold out.”

Pascal concluded by suggesting Diaz probably wouldn’t accept the fight because he’s a coward, and not a real fighter. It’s hard not to wonder if he actually knows anything about the Diaz brothers…

“He’s never had a belt that people care about,” he continued, flaunting his many boxing titles on camera. “That’s what I’m talking about. And then he claims he can beat a boxer? Come on guys. Stop talking shit, and lets do it like real men. Simple and easy right? I’m pretty sure he’s going to stay quiet because he’s a coward, he’s not a real man. He’s not a real fighter, he’s not a real soldier.”

Would you be interested in a Nick Diaz vs. Jean Pascal boxing match? Sound off, PENN Nation!

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 3/27/2017.