Many expect Joshua to outclass and destroy Paul within the first minute of their heavyweight showdown next month, but a UFC icon is backing the ‘Problem Child’ to score a huge upset
Nate Diaz has put his money where his mouth is after placing a stunning $20,000 wager on Jake Paul to topple Anthony Joshua.
Both Paul and Joshua will trade leather on December 19 in Miami in a professional heavyweight dust-up. Their mouthwatering fight will be contested over eight three-minute rounds, and both men will don 10oz gloves.
Paul has not fought since cruising to a points victory over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr back in June. With a record of 12-1, the YouTuber-turned-boxer has largely padded his boxing CV with wins over former UFC fighters. His only defeat in the ring came two years ago against long-time rival Tommy Fury.
His outing with Joshua will unquestionably be his toughest test yet. Many within the boxing fraternity are expecting a comfortable night at the office for ‘AJ,’ but Paul’s former opponent, Diaz, is going for a huge upset in Miami this Christmas. The ex-UFC welterweight fighter famously went the distance with the ‘Problem Child’ two years ago, but was convincingly beaten on points.
Watch Jake vs Joshua live on Netflix for free
Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul will face off for a heavyweight clash in Miami on December 19. The fight will stream live on Netflix, which fans can get for free with Sky’s £15 Essential TV bundle, the brand’s ‘lowest ever price’ for Sky TV.
The pair have traded verbal jabs ever since their 2023 meeting, but Diaz is backing the social media sensation to shock the world. In a post uploaded online, the 40-year-old shared a betting slip which showed him placing $20,000 on the ‘Problem Child’ to emerge victorious. Diaz will be hoping the YouTuber-turned-boxer scores a stunning victory on fight night. If he does, the Stockton native will take home a whopping $142,000.
Many may decide to play it a little more safe and stick to betting on Joshua to get the job done. The money-spinning super-fight will see both men pocket up to £70million. It is fair to say that both men are accustomed to pocketing life-changing paydays. Paul will arguably see the dust-up as a high risk, high reward situation.
The 28-year-old is willing to pay the ultimate price in order to come away with the win and score the biggest upset in the history of the sport. “No one ever thought that this would be possible, that we would be here when I first started boxing,” he said at the launch press conference
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“No one thinks I’m going to win so join the list and be ready to be shocked. I know that I have the power and the timing. It’s the shots you don’t see coming, and I’m a tricky knockout artist; he has to be careful. I think it will be a fourth or fifth-round knockout. I’m ready to die to win this fight.”
Paul, a huge underdog, sees holes in the Brit’s game. “His footwork. His rhythm. His speed and crossing his feet. All of these things are going to have a big play on Friday, December 19,” he said. The YouTuber-turned-boxer added: “I think it’s watching his Daniel Dubois fight. Watching the Andy Ruiz Jr fight and even watching the Oleksandr Usyk fight. And when you look at it, he has lost to guys who are smaller than him. I think it’s his weakness. It’s his kryptonite. It’s the faster guys who do not get hit by his big punches.”
When is Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul?
Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul will clash in Miami on December 19, just six days before Christmas. The pair will likely walk to the ring at around 11pm local time which would be 4am in the UK. Fight times are usually set to benefit the American audience and are subject to change depending on how long the undercard takes to complete. The event is set to be shown live on Netflix.
