Anthony Joshua‘s Bout with Jake Paul Signals Career Crossroads, Experts suggest
MIAMI – Anthony Joshua’s upcoming December 19th fight against Jake Paul at the Kaseya Center in Miami is being widely interpreted as a sign that the former heavyweight champion’s competitive career is nearing its end, according to commentary from boxing analysts. While the eight-round bout is projected to generate meaningful revenue and viewership on Netflix, several figures within the sport suggest Joshua’s willingness to face the YouTube personality indicates a shift away from pursuing top-tier competition.
The decision to fight Paul, a relative newcomer to professional boxing, has raised eyebrows and fueled speculation about joshua’s priorities. Carl Froch, a former super middleweight champion, expressed doubt that Paul would proceed with the fight if faced with a genuinely risky opponent, stating, “He won’t jump into the ring with Anthony Joshua and get knocked out in round 1 – because that’s what would happen.” This sentiment underscores the perceived mismatch in skill and experience, leading many to believe the fight is motivated by financial gain rather than sporting ambition.
Former super middleweight champion George Groves echoed this assessment, suggesting that if Joshua doesn’t quickly defeat Paul, the fight will appear pre-arranged. “If he doesn’t destroy him in the first 30 seconds, it looks like it’s been arranged. It’s tough,” Groves said. He further posited that Joshua should have pursued a rematch with Tyson Fury,but if seeking “free money,” the Paul fight is a logical choice.
Boxing journalist and author Donald McRae, writing in The Guardian, also questioned the fight’s sporting value, noting Joshua is “well past his prime” despite remaining in “top physical shape.” McRae speculated that the bout could be a “controlled arrangement” where joshua avoids seriously harming a lucrative opponent, predicting, “Joshua and Paul would make a crazy amount of money, Netflix will bring in huge ratings and boxing will seem a little more broken.”
