Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh has boldly predicted that Anthony Joshua will 'destroy' YouTube sensation Jake Paul in their highly anticipated heavyweight showdown next month.
The High-Stakes Heavyweight Clash
Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul are officially set to collide in a professional boxing match on December 19 in Miami, with the event streaming live on Netflix. The fight represents one of the most talked-about crossovers in recent boxing history, pitting the former two-time world champion against the social media star turned professional boxer.
Alalshikh, who has been instrumental in Joshua's recent fights in Saudi Arabia, revealed his stark prediction during an interview with Tha Boxing Voice back in July. "If Joshua destroys him, it will be good for me because the headache is finished," Alalshikh stated. "Let me explain for you, Joshua against Jake Paul, if Joshua destroys him then the headache of Jake Paul will go from my mind."
Road to the Ring: From Call-Out to Contract
The path to this unlikely matchup began earlier this year when Paul launched a sensational verbal attack on Joshua during his YouTube show 'BS with Jake Paul'. The 28-year-old American declared: "I want to fight Anthony Joshua because I know I will f***ing beat Anthony Joshua's ass. He doesn't have a chin and he has no skill and he's stiff."
Despite initial scepticism from the boxing world about the fight ever materialising, the pair verbally agreed to a bout over the phone. After several months of stalled negotiations, reports emerged last week confirming that both camps were finalising a deal for a Christmas-season showdown.
The confirmation came on Monday afternoon, setting the stage for a professional heavyweight contest that will see the fighters likely enter the ring around 11pm local time (4am UK time), with exact timings dependent on the undercard duration.
Divided Opinions in the Boxing World
While Alalshikh and many boxing insiders anticipate a swift victory for Joshua, former world champion Lawrence Okolie has offered a contrasting perspective. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday morning, Okolie suggested the fight might last longer than many expect.
"For some reason I don't think so," Okolie responded when asked about an early knockout. "From what I've gathered of AJ I don't think he's going to go hit him with a massive right hand and end it in 30 seconds. I do think though if Jake Paul starts touching him it will be like OK... If Jake Paul hits him and doesn't take him out with the first one then it's a long night."
Alalshikh, however, remains confident in his assessment, rating Joshua's chances at 99-1 in his favour. "If Jake wins, then I will know that Joshua is finished and Jake Paul deserves to be ranked and deserves to have a future in boxing," he conceded, though his overwhelming expectation remains a destructive performance from the British heavyweight.
The December 19th event promises to be one of the most watched boxing matches of the year, blending traditional boxing audiences with Paul's massive digital following in a contest that could redefine both fighters' careers.
