“To all my haters, this is what you wanted.”
That was part of Jake Paul’s message after the announcement that he will fight former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua on Tuesday.
And it’s only partly true, considering most of his haters in the boxing world would rather he not enter the ring at all, so they’d never have to hear from him again.
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But as long as he can make tens of millions per fight – that’s highly unlikely.
Paul, 28, will face arguably the most accomplished opponent of his career in 36-year-old Joshua, a two-time holder of the WBO, WBA and IBF belts.
Jake Paul. Anadolu via Getty Images
The event is set to be streamed globally on Netflix and marks Paul’s second live appearance on the streaming platform following last year’s win over Mike Tyson.
The $282 million event came about only when Paul’s previous opponent, Gervonta Davis, was dropped due to a domestic violence lawsuit.
From the outside looking in, it appeared Paul and his team were desperate to fulfil his obligations with Netflix and fill the spot as he was put in an uncomfortable spot by Davis’ legal troubles.
His decision to initially fight Davis, a 166cm lightweight champion, told most people what they needed to know about Paul’s intentions.
It would have been a re-run of his brother’s clash with Floyd Mayweather.
Big name + lack of size = controllable exhibition.
Compare that to Joshua, who stands 198cm and typically fights at 111kg; the only assumption one can make is that Paul was backed into a corner trying to save the event.
And in doing so, he’s put himself in a position that could very well be detrimental to his health, as many boxing people have noted.
Additionally, he’s offering his opponent more than usual – and we’re not talking about the fight purse.
Usually, Paul’s events only have one winner inside and outside the ring – the man himself. Tommy Fury is the only fighter to defeat him, but most of his opponents lose dramatically, and then the spotlight is virtually gone afterwards, leaving Paul as the supreme winner on all levels.
Anthony Joshua is caught by Daniel Dubois in the first round. Getty
Paul is different from other fighters. He wins every time he enters the ring because people will always want to see him get pummelled. He’s more WWE than WBC.
He could lose his next three fights and still get a deal with a broadcaster and be assured an audience will consume, because most people are tuning in on a tabloid level, not to witness athletic greatness. And to see his block get knocked off, of course.
But on this occasion, Paul is giving far too much away to his opponent, inside and outside the ring.
Joshua, a 2012 Olympic gold medallist and two-time unified world champion, has a 28-4 record with 25 knockouts. Paul’s record stands at 12-1.
However, Joshua lost twice to Oleksandr Usyk and was knocked out by Daniel Dubois in September last year in an IBF heavyweight title bout – his last professional fight.
Joshua dwarfs Paul in every physical category and has 18 years in the ring compared to Paul’s five, and they’ll be fighting in regulation 10oz gloves, unlike the 14oz gloves sanctioned for the Mike Tyson fight.
If you consider what Joshua did to former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou when they met over 18 months ago, knocking him down three times in five minutes, one would have to question Paul’s motives in accepting such a bout to save the event.
In doing so, he turned to rival Eddie Hearn and is arguably laying a platform for Joshua’s upcoming fights in early and late 2026.
Turki Alalhsikh with undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez (L) and Terence Crawford. Getty
Speaking at the Conor Benn v Chris Eubank fight, Saudi fixer Turki Alalshikh, the man who convinced Canelo Alvarez to spurn an offer to fight Paul for a tidy sum to take on Terrence Crawford, teased he will bring “one of the greatest fights in history” next September, which is believed to be Joshua vs. Tyson Fury.
“I am talking now with Eddie (Hearn), we have next year two big events here in London, it will be a surprise,” Alalshikh said on the DAZN broadcast.
“We will have Joshua in our country in February, then there is the big fight, one of the greatest fights in the history of boxing, it will be in London here maybe in September.”
With Joshua treating Paul as a mere speed bump on the way to fighting Fury next year, the social media performer turned boxer will most likely get chewed up in the ring and give Joshua and Hearn a promotional leg up in front of his audience.
That usually never happens when Paul laces the gloves.
“I’m not gonna lie, I’m a little scared,” he said when the fight was announced.
“And yes, little Josh is signed to my enemy, Eddie Hearn. I know Eddie and all of you naysayers are saying that I wouldn’t take this fight.
“My friends and family couldn’t even believe I was taking this fight.”
Regardless of what anyone says, one must tip their hat to Paul for taking this fight – it is his most difficult match-up by far.
But it was all of his own choosing and possibly driven by low ticket sales for his bout with Davis. Prices were slashed due to low demand before the fight was eventually canned.
To avoid an issue like that again, with less than a month to promote the event, they went out and made sure his next opponent would sell and is taller than 166cm.
