The ‘Problem Child’ is set for his toughest challenge yet on Friday night in the shape of Anthony Joshua – a former two-time heavyweight world champion
Jake Paul faces ‘going in the grave’ quicker than expected in his fight with Anthony Joshua. That is according to British boxing legend Amir Khan – who believes the controversial dust-up won’t see past the third round.
Paul – a natural cruiserweight – will be making the move up to boxing heaviest weight class for a second time in his career. The YouTuber-turned-boxer’s sole appearance at heavyweight came in November 2024 against Mike Tyson.
Despite failing to get the knockout, the boxing novice cruised to a decision victory over a weary and fatigued Tyson. Since making his professional debut five years ago, Paul has largely come up against ex-MMA stars past their best, completely blitzing through them to make it seem like he’s better than he is.
His only career defeat came at the hands of Tommy Fury two years ago in an epic back-and-forth Saudi showdown. But Fury is not Joshua. ‘AJ – a former two-time heavyweight world champion – has produced several highlight-reel knockouts over the years. The Brit’s last victory saw him render Francis Ngannou completely unconscious – leaving the Cameroonian in a terrifying state.
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.
On paper, the upcoming eight-round Miami melee SHOULD be a complete mismatch. Joshua is expected to starch the social media sensation in under three minutes. The 36-year-old himself admitted only an early night at the office would suffice, insisting he could ‘kill’ the young American in the ring.
Many are fearing for Paul’s health and well-being, and Khan himself was eager to send the 28-year-old a stern warning just hours before fight night. “Looking at this fight on paper, it’s like Jake Paul wants to go in the grave quicker than ever,” he told Mirror Fighting. “When you are fighting a former heavyweight champion and a former Olympic gold medalist in AJ. I mean, AJ is guy that can really hurt an opponent. For example, look at Francis Ngannou. Ngannou was used to being hit with smaller gloves and is also a big heavyweight champion coming out of the UFC. When you put the gloves on, it’s a different game. Now, you have got a YouTuber going in the ring with a former heavyweight champion of the world… ok, respect to Jake.
“He has fought a lot of good fighters and beaten them. But they have been over the hill in my opinion or have been past it or not what they were. But, with someone like AJ, I think that you cannot go into a fight like that. It is a mismatch looking at it. It is a big mismatch, and unless AJ has been told to take it easy on him, then I think there is someone that is going to get hurt really badly and we already know who that someone is going to be.”
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Paul’s uninspiring dust-up with Tyson last year marked Netflix’s first foray into boxing. The popular streaming service is once again set to broadcast another historic night of action, with millions set to tune in worldwide. Khan admits viewers are only interested in seeing exactly how the 28-year-old gets stopped.
Khan could not resist a slight pop at the American’s partner-in-crime Nakisa Bidarian for allowing the ‘Problem Child’ to step in the ring with such a behemoth. “But, look, let’s see. I think a lot of people are tuning in to see how he gets hurt, how he gets knocked out, how Jake Paul gets beaten up because the boxing world do not like him and do not like his manager Nakisa either… really is arrogant and comes across like he is a big dog,” he continued. “I blame Jake’s manager, Nakisa and the team who have put on a fight like this because they want to see him over money…. And get hurt over money. It just shows the power of money nowadays. I wish Jake all the best and let it be.”
Many have backed Joshua to get it done in seconds, and anything else is a fix. But that might not necessarily be the case, as Khan believes the fight will go past the opening round, before Paul eventually ends up wishing he had not stepped in the squared-circle with ‘AJ’ and regret ever lacing up the gloves in the first place.
“Look, I think one round is to play it out and see what he is going to do,” he explained. “Then the second round is going to be ‘I could put a little pressure on him.’ I think it is going to go three rounds maximum. When Jake feels that power, and the one jab, he is going to be like ’s***, I am in the wrong sport.’ That is the honest truth of it. When you get hit with the first shot, he is going to realise that ‘I am in the wrong game here. I do not know why I took this fight against a heavyweight champion.’ Sometimes these guys try to bite more than they can chew.”
