Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua - Circus like

All will be revealed

Jake Paul, who has generated millions of dollars for himself by competing against hand-picked boxers, was set to carry on his boxing charade. 

In fact, he was set to amp up the sideshow factor, fighting talented world champion Gervonta Davis. 

The only problem is that Davis is about 60 pounds lighter and several inches shorter, like a foot shorter. In short, it was a lightweight vs. a heavyweight (or something close to those numbers). On paper, it was (size-wise) a ridiculous mismatch that was a cash grab for Davis and meant nothing if Paul or Davis won. 

If Paul wanted to convince fans he was the real deal, this wasn’t helping his cause. But, hold on! 

With Davis’ latest brush with the law taking him out of the fight, fans were wondering what, if anything, was next. 

Well, something is happening. 

Paul will take a monumental step up in competition against former two-time unified heavyweight titleholder Anthony Joshua on December 19 at the Kaseya Center in Miami.

Paul’s resume is a novelty act ledger at best.

But, British star Joshua is nothing but world-class and impressive.

Joshua turned pro in 2013, had a WBC International belt by 2014, had a BBB of C belt by 2015, and was a world champion by 2016. 

Over the next two years, he made six title defenses before being upset by Andy Ruiz via knockout in 2019.

Since defeating Ruiz in the rematch, he has gone 5-3, but 2 of the losses were distance fights to Oleksandr Usyk, and the other was in his last outing, getting stopped by Daniel Dubois. 

At age 36, Joshua is certainly in the twilight of his career. In this fight, he has everything to lose. 

If he loses to Paul, it is over. He needs to find the motivation to take the fight seriously and not just look at it as a payday. 

It is a strange fight for Joshua as he has always carried himself as a proud, legitimate fighter.

But while he waits for perhaps his final world title shot against a “real” fighter, this is a fun event and a good payday. 

In boxing, if it makes dollars, it makes sense. 

For Paul, it has always been legitimacy that he needs more than anything else. 

Props to the former TV star for getting into the toughest of sports and finding a way to make serious bank against hand-picked opposition.

But, at some point, bragging and novelty fights wear thin. This is the fight that, if he wins, he might just finally get that stamp of approval from real fight fans. 

But it is a huge if!

Joshua has certainly been confident since the fight was announced. 

“Jake or anyone can get this work. No mercy,” said Joshua. 

“I took some time out and I’m coming back with a mega show. It’s a big opportunity for me. Whether you like it or not, I’m here to do massive numbers, have big fights and break every record whilst keeping cool, calm and collected. I’m about to break the internet over Jake Paul’s face.”

Paul is nothing if not confident and never short of a quote.

“This isn’t an A I simulation. This is Judgment Day,” Paul said in the announcement. “A professional heavyweight fight against an elite (former) world champion. When I beat Anthony Joshua, every doubt disappears, and no one can deny me the opportunity to fight for a world title, he said. “To all my haters, this is what you wanted. To the people of the United Kingdom, I am sorry. On Friday, December 19, the torch gets passed, and Britain’s Goliath gets put to sleep.”

If you hit the socials, you can see a multitude of predictions. Every one of them, most from professional boxers, sees it as a well-paying cakewalk for Joshua. 

Will the fight be any good? Who knows? Will the event be fun - no doubt. 

This might be a circus, but who doesn’t love a good day at the circus!