Anthony Joshua is being urged to deliver a brutal knockout of Jake Paul, not just for his own legacy but to settle a score for the entire sport of boxing following the YouTuber's controversial bout with Mike Tyson.
The Call for Retribution
According to UFC icon Jorge Masvidal, the boxing world is desperate to see the social media star "whooped" for his fight against the 59-year-old Tyson last year. Masvidal believes a decisive victory for Anthony Joshua would cement him as a "folklore hero" for generations.
"If AJ goes out there and executes Jake Paul in under a minute, this won’t add anything or take anything away from AJ’s legacy," Masvidal told Thunderpick. "But it will add clout... Because everybody wants to see Jake get whooped like that, especially for what he did to Mike Tyson."
Paul's Record and the Tyson Aftermath
Jake Paul, 28, turned professional in 2020 and has built a record of 12-1, with wins over former UFC stars like Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz. His sole defeat came against Tommy Fury in 2023. His most shocking match-up, however, was against the legendary Mike Tyson in 2024, a fight that left many fans concerned, especially after Tyson later admitted he could not remember parts of the contest.
Masvidal emphasised the lingering resentment, stating that Joshua's potential demolition of Paul would be a story told for years. "These 14-year-old kids that adore Jake Paul, when they're 28 years old, they'll still be talking about AJ," he added.
Joshua's Vow of Violence
The British heavyweight has vowed not to hold back, promising a destructive performance when they meet in the ring. Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul is set for December 19 in Miami, with the event streaming live on Netflix.
"It's not a win for me if I just beat him; I need to knock him out," Joshua declared. "I'm going to break his face and break his body... I want to hurt him, I'm going to want to really hurt him in the ring."
He plans to impose his superior skill and power, stating, "I’m going to land heavy punches and expose him to certain tricks in boxing that he maybe hasn’t seen yet."
Fight Night Details
The highly anticipated heavyweight clash will take place just six days before Christmas. The main event walk-outs are expected around 11pm local time in Miami (4am UK time), though the schedule can change based on the undercard. UK fans can watch the fight live on Netflix, which is currently available for free with Sky's £15 Essential TV bundle.
