By Mark Frank: Jake Paul continues to blur the lines between a circus sideshow and a legit sportsman. However, dedication to the sport is not one of his issues. Neither are smart opponent choices of constantly progressing difficulty.
Now, he eyes his biggest challenge yet, former Unified heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua.
Despite fighting as low as Cruiserweight, Paul reportedly walks around at about 230 pounds. Still, this would make him 20 pounds lighter than Joshua. In a sport where size and experience can cancel each other out, Joshua has both.
The question is…what does Paul see that makes him so confident? Joshua is coming off a major loss to Dubois, sure, but nobody would doubt Dubois is levels above Paul as a pro boxer.
Well, except perhaps Jake Paul. Whose confidence is so high he is even willing to take just one percent of the total purse of the fight.
And with Paul recently receiving a new level of legitimacy in his career, thanks to a ranking by the WBA, it doesn’t seem like he is quite ready to cash out and retire just yet.
Even Tyson Fury has chimed in with support of Paul, claiming a win for him is possible.
Is it?
In this new, surreal world boxing seems to dwell in, it very well could be.
Here’s how.
In the early rounds, Anthony Joshua, knowing himself the bigger man, and thinking himself the bigger puncher, may try to overpower Jake and get rid of him fast. And after maybe a scare or two for Paul, the attack ends with his survival, and a zoned-in, but heavy-breathing Anthony Joshua returns to his corner.
The fight goes on, and eventually turns into something that shocks some observers. A match that is slightly competitive, albeit in an ‘exhibition’ type way.
At some point, during an awkward clinch exchange, a wild overhand punch from Paul could theoretically catch Joshua in an awkward spot, similar to the first Ruiz fight. This, along with a strange tangling of legs, may cause Joshua to fall over. A knockdown is then scored in Paul’s favor.
The rest of the rounds are less eventful. A few strong Joshua jabs land here and there, but several cinematic, though blocked, right hands from Paul get the crowd cheering. And the judges can’t help but be influenced.
The fight ends and the results are in. Jake Paul is the winner by a split decision. The now viral knockdown being the difference. A win is controversial, but officially undeniable. Jake Paul walks away with another new level of legitimacy stamped on his career.
This is, of course, just one way the fight could theoretically play out.
But if it did happen, if somehow Jake Paul does the impossible and defeats Anthony Joshua, what could a step up in competition mean next?
For now, the contract is yet to be signed.
Last Updated on 07/22/2025
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