Jake Paul may have labelled Anthony Joshua “slow” and claimed he struggles with smaller fighters, but ring legend Roy Jones Jr believes any danger Joshua faces could come from something far simpler.
Live on Netflix on December 19 from the Kaseya Center in Miami, the boxing world will watch anxiously and hope the former unified champion avoids what would be the biggest upset in the sport’s history.
Paul will concede five inches in height, six in reach and a significant weight disadvantage. Beyond that, he must find a way to jump from beating a diminished Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in his last outing to conquering a former Olympic gold medallist who challenged for the world heavyweight title only last year.
Jones Jr – who climbed his own heavyweight summit, from a far superior pedigree, to beat John Ruiz for the WBA title after winning championships in three lower divisions – told Boxing King Media what he sees as the one scenario that could trigger the upset of all upsets.
“The only thing is if Joshua underestimates him. Jake has a chance because don’t get it twisted, Jake can punch. [I] know people say Jake is a fluke. Jake is this, Jake that. No, Jake has studied his craft. Jake knows a little bit more about boxing now than people think. And Jake can punch. So if Jake hit him, it could be problematic.”
Joshua has been knocked down several times in his career — by Wladimir Klitschko, Andy Ruiz Jr and, most recently, by Daniel Dubois. That night at Wembley Stadium saw Joshua floored four times in his unsuccessful bid to become a three-time heavyweight champion.
