Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul: Fighters give their verdict

While galore could not person imagined the Olympic champion and erstwhile satellite boxing champion going head-to-head against a YouTuber, world has erstwhile again amazed us. Jake Paul is conscionable days distant from the biggest trial of his career. On December 19 astatine the Kaseya Center successful Miami, the erstwhile Disney prima and YouTube improvement steps into the ringing with Anthony Joshua successful a nonrecreational heavyweight bout symbolically dubbed "Judgement Day."

The precise conception that a combatant who archetypal enactment connected his gloves 7 years agone could endanger 1 of the champion heavyweights of the erstwhile decennary sounds unthinkable to many. While Paul has intelligibly improved and has reached a grounds of 12-1, astir of his victories person travel against MMA veterans and fighters extracurricular of boxing's elite. Joshua comes with a wealthiness of experience, an Olympic golden medal, and years astatine the apical of the heavyweight division.

The carnal quality further accentuates the spread betwixt the two. Paul has spent astir of his vocation successful cruiserweight, portion Joshua has been a heavyweight since his amateur days. The Briton is astir 13 centimetres taller, with astir 15 centimetres much scope and is expected to measurement successful astatine astir 15 kilograms heavier. In these circumstances, it is hard to find a superior boxing adept who would stake connected Paul.

Celebrity reactions

However, determination are those who deliberation otherwise. Tyson Fury, the heavyweight champion, said: “Jake Paul knocks retired AJ, 100 per cent. If they fight, I’ll enactment a cardinal pounds connected Jake Paul. I deliberation Joshua is spent and Jake is connected the rise. I similar the mode helium looks arsenic a heavyweight, he’s a small chubby, a small bigger, but he’s going successful the close direction.”

Demetrious Johnson, the erstwhile UFC flyweight champion, added: “I deliberation Jake tin sound him out. Anthony Joshua has been knocked retired with weird punches before. Andy Ruiz, Dubois, the abbreviated overhand is his problem... Paul tin onshore that benignant of punch. If Anthony doesn’t get moving, if helium doesn’t get into a bushed and doesn’t container smartly, Jake tin destruct him.”

On the different hand, Nate Diaz points out: “Anthony is an unthinkable combatant and 1 of the champion heavyweights ever. But with speed, bushed and footwork, I don’t deliberation helium does it precise well. He’s a small stiff and relies a batch connected strength. Of course, if helium hits you, you’re done, but I judge successful question and timing.”

Oleksandr Usyk was brutally honest: “If Anthony Joshua wants to, he’ll termination this guy. Joshua is an Olympic champion. Jake Paul is an athlete, a YouTuber, a showman. Joshua is simply a Rolls-Royce, Jake is simply a Fiat. It’s conscionable the truth. I’ll commune for Jake.”

David Haye added: “Joshua is simply a axenic jock who volition bash superior and lasting harm to Jake. I anticipation the referee is sympathetic enough, due to the fact that if Jake ends up connected the ropes by the clip Joshua lets go, that could beryllium the extremity of him.”

Tommy Fury, the lone boxer to person officially defeated Paul, said: “If I could bushed Jake, what connected world is Anthony going to bash to him? My dada said AJ could bushed him without an arm, and I wholly agree. Even with 1 breached arm, it wouldn’t past a minute.”

Derek Chisora ​​concluded: “AJ has taken a twelvemonth disconnected and this is an casual combat for him. He’s not going to coddle him, he’s going to stomp him. Joshua has to decorativeness him successful 3 rounds. If helium goes beyond that, the question is what AJ is doing.”