Three of Jake Paul’s former opponents have predicted conflicting outcomes ahead of the internet star’s clash with Anthony Joshua on December 19.
The pair will square off in an eight-round professional heavyweight contest at the Kaseya Center, Miami, with Joshua having replaced WBA world lightweight champion Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis.
Joshua steps in to face the YouTuber-turned-boxer in what most have deemed a ‘farce’, with Paul’s most high-profile bout coming when outpointed a 58-year-old Mike Tyson through eight rounds last year.
Joshua, therefore, is widely considered to be an almighty favourite, even though he has not fought since his fifth round stoppage defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024.
One of those picking the 36-year-old to annihilate his novice opponent is Tommy Fury, who scraped an eight-round split decision victory over Paul in 2023.
In an interview with The Stomping Ground, Fury made no attempt to hide his true feelings of the controversial fight taking place next month.
“If I can beat Jake Paul, what the f**k is Anthony Joshua going to do to Jake Paul. I think my dad said that ‘AJ’ could beat him with his p***k, and I would completely back that up.
“Even if ‘AJ’ had a broken arm in there, it still wouldn’t go past a minute. As [for] a safety aspect, there’s no way that fight can go ahead.”
In an interview with iFL TV, meanwhile, former UFC champion Tyron Woodley, who lost a split decision to Paul before getting knocked out in their rematch, decided to offer a slightly different assessment.
“I never took Jake lightly. He doesn’t have anything limiting him from training, nutrition, training partners, coaches and, when you believe in yourself, and you’re an athlete, you can put those hours into the gym. That’s a dangerous opponent to go against.
“You look at Anthony – he may be taking him lightly. When you have somebody that’s smaller than you, that’s more agile than you, that’s moving around – we don’t know how Anthony’s going to deal with that fight.
“Of course, with the boxing, the skill and the experience has got to go with Joshua.”
Nate Diaz took Paul 10 rounds before losing on points in 2023, and the UFC legend has filed his emphatic prediction via a social media post.
“Paul’s beating Joshua.”
All will be revealed when Paul and Joshua meet in their heavyweight showdown next month, with Joshua unable to weigh more than 245lbs for the bout.
