Reports suggest Nate Diaz has not discussed a potential fight with Darren Till internally, contradicting claims that Diaz withdrew from a scheduled Misfits Boxing event.
The iconic former UFC lightweight title challenger last competed in a boxing rematch against Jorge Masvidal last summer. Diaz consistently receives fight offers and has recently indicated interest in returning to the UFC.
Therefore, it was unexpected to hear reports that Diaz had declined a Misfits Boxing match against Till planned for early August. However, Diaz`s close friend, Jake Shields, stated in a recent interview that he and Diaz had never talked about such a fight recently.
Shields Denies Diaz-Till Fight Talks: “Never Mentioned”
Nate Diaz recently spent time in Thailand filming a reality show alongside Jon Jones, from which he reportedly departed after a physical altercation occurred during production. His friend and team member, Jake Shields, was present in Thailand and would likely be aware of any fight-related discussions.
Interviewed in Miami, Shields expressed confusion regarding the assertion that Diaz had withdrawn from a bout with Till. He commented, visibly surprised: “No, what? Nate’s my best friend and he’s never mentioned that.”
Shields further added that he didn`t see the matchup making much sense commercially, as Till, while well-known, doesn`t command the same pay-per-view interest as Diaz`s recent opponents like Jake Paul or Jorge Masvidal.
“I like Darren Till but I just don’t think he’s at a big enough level for Nate to fight, he’s almost there but he’s not quite a big enough name. Someone like [Mike] Perry makes a bit more sense, even though I like Perry and I don’t want to fight him but that fight makes a bit more sense.”
Darren Till Says He`s Struggling to Find an August Opponent After Diaz Situation
Both Till and his manager, Lee Eaton, have publicly stated that Diaz reneged on an agreement for a Misfits Boxing fight this summer. Consequently, Till claims he has found it difficult to secure another high-profile opponent after competing in two exhibition bouts earlier in the year against Anthony Taylor and Darren Stewart.
In a video message to fans, Till said:
“I had fight news to announce… Basically, Nate Diaz called the fight on with me. He wanted to fight me on August 2nd. He called everything, he called the weight, and I accepted. I got straight into camp on Monday, and now he’s pulled out of the fight.”
Till subsequently listed several potential opponents who are currently unavailable, including boxing veteran Carl Froch, who allegedly requires several months to prepare. A long-desired matchup by fans is against Mike Perry, but reports indicate the `King of Violence` is seeking a seven-figure payout.
According to Till, Tyron Woodley – who defeated him via submission in their 2018 UFC championship bout – is interested in a rematch but isn`t available this summer. Till also mentioned that Jorge Masvidal, who famously knocked him out months after the Woodley fight, is also reportedly uninterested in facing him again.
