In a stunning assessment that reveals just how seriously he is taking his upcoming bout, former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has suggested YouTube sensation Jake Paul could defeat one of his own former opponents.
Joshua's Shocking Admission on Paul's Chances
The British boxing icon, who will face Paul in a highly anticipated eight-round clash on December 19 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, offered surprising praise for the social media star's abilities. When asked by Fight Hype which of his last six foes Paul could potentially beat, Joshua named former UFC champion Francis Ngannou.
"Maybe Ngannou," stated the 36-year-old from Watford. "That’s a fight you might see in the future. It’s a good question, I swear to you I was asking myself that yesterday. I wonder how some of the fighters I’ve fought would get on with Jake."
This comment serves as a significant compliment to Paul, who remains a relative novice in professional boxing despite a 9-1 record built largely against mixed martial artists and celebrities.
The Stakes for the Miami Mega-Fight
The fight itself, streamed live globally on Netflix, represents by far the biggest test of Jake Paul's boxing career. It follows his victory over former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in June of this year. For Joshua, the bout comes after a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois last year, which was preceded by his own sensational second-round stoppage of Ngannou.
The contest will be contested over eight three-minute rounds with both men wearing 10oz gloves. A specific stipulation requires Joshua to weigh in at no more than 245lbs, highlighting the size disparity that was evident when the pair faced off.
More Than Just Praise: Joshua's Ruthless Intent
Despite his respectful words, Joshua left no doubt about his violent intentions for fight night. He made it clear that merely defeating Paul would not constitute a satisfactory result for him.
"It's not a win for me if I just beat him; I need to knock him out," Joshua declared emphatically. "I'm going to break his face and break his body. I'm here to prove I'm the better fighter and will do that until I stop fighting. I'm going to go in there and do a job. I want to hurt him, I'm going to want to really hurt him in the ring."
He promised to bring a level of boxing sophistication that Paul has yet to encounter. "I’m going to land heavy punches and expose him to certain tricks in boxing that he maybe hasn’t seen yet. And I'm going to bring him to a different school of boxing that he maybe hasn’t been exposed to yet."
Alongside recognising Paul's power, Joshua also praised his opponent's business mind, calling him a "smart operator" and a "realist" for taking the fight. "He is not crazy. I do not think Jake is crazy. He is a realist. He is a logical man. And he wants to fight," Joshua concluded.
The stage is now set for a fascinating collision between established boxing royalty and the sport's most famous disruptor, with the world watching live on Netflix.
