01 way traffic and one draw, experts deliver verdicts on Jake Paul Vs Joshua
Anthony Joshua steps back into the ring on Friday night for the first time in 15 months, taking on Jake Paul at the Kaseya Center in Miami.
In one of the most unexpected match ups in modern boxing, the former two time heavyweight world champion faces a YouTuber turned professional fighter in an eight round heavyweight contest.
At 36, Joshua is looking to make a statement on his return. Paul, 28, is chasing the kind of upset that would send shockwaves through the sport. From former world champions to trainers and promoters, the verdicts are largely one sided, with one notable exception.
Lennox Lewis, former heavyweight world champion
“The bell rings and Joshua goes straight to work with the jab. Jake Paul will be moving, trying to avoid Joshua’s power.
“Joshua will close the distance, dig to the body, land heavy jabs and right hands, and wear him down.
“Second round, it’s over.”
Natasha Jonas, former two weight world champion
“If Jake Paul survives this fight, it looks bad for boxing. If Joshua does what everyone expects, maybe it puts an end to the circus.
“There is no way Jake can move for eight rounds and not get caught. In boxing, you get hit. Can he take a proper shot from Joshua? No.
“Hopefully Joshua knocks him out quickly and reminds everyone that elite boxing is on a completely different level.”
Frazer Clarke, British heavyweight
“I was shocked Jake Paul took this fight. It’s madness.
“I know AJ well. If he really wants to, he can erase him. I’ve felt Joshua’s power and it’s on another level entirely.”
Carl Frampton, former two weight world champion
“It might be slightly harder for Joshua to land clean early than people expect, but it should still be over in one or two rounds.
“If he doesn’t catch him clean straight away, he backs him into a corner and forces the stoppage.”
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Eddie Hearn, Matchroom promoter
“I see a brutal knockout inside two rounds, but it depends how it happens.
“He could break him down to the body, stop him with a clean shot upstairs, or the referee steps in. Either way, once Joshua lands properly, it’s finished.
“The speed and power he punches with means as soon as Paul is hit on the chin, it’s done.”
Joe Gallagher, boxing trainer
“There will be some feeling out in round one. By round two or three, Joshua lets his hands go.
“If he fights the way he did against Ngannou, Jake Paul is knocked out inside three rounds.”
Richie Woodhall, former world champion
“This is like a non league team playing Manchester United. The danger massively outweighs any reward.
“Joshua might not be at his peak anymore, but he is still elite and punches unbelievably hard.
“He won’t play along or carry him. That’s not who he is. He will look to hurt him. Outside the ring AJ is a great guy, inside it he is ruthless.
“Jake needs to throw everything and hope, but this is a terrible match up.”
Anthony Crolla, former lightweight world champion
“If this is genuine and not staged, Joshua stops him in round two.”
Troy Williamson, British super middleweight
“I can see Joshua winning on points, even though he should end it quickly. I don’t know why, but I just have a feeling it might go the distance.”
Prediction: Joshua
Cassius Chaney, American heavyweight
“I lean towards conspiracy theories sometimes, so I’m saying a draw.
“Jake could move, frustrate him for five or six rounds. Joshua might not want to chase him constantly. If that happens, Paul only needs to survive late.”
Izzy Asif, GBM promoter
“I see Joshua finishing him in rounds three or four.
“It won’t be instant. Paul will come prepared and try to hang in there. But once Joshua spots a weakness, he ends it. A controlled, dominant performance.”
Chris Billam-Smith, former cruiserweight world champion
“What we see from Jake Paul is confidence bordering on delusion. It’s one of the most absurd fights imaginable.
“If this goes five rounds, I would be questioning Joshua.”
Caroline Dubois, lightweight world champion
“I honestly don’t know. It’s such a strange and intriguing fight. Anything could happen.”
