ANTHONY Joshua’s career will be as good as finished if he doesn’t look good against Jake Paul, claims Frank Warren.
The legendary boxing promoter, who represents Tyson Fury among many others, admits the fight will do big business, but the risks may outweigh the rewards for AJ.
Warren told Sky Sports: “If he looks bad against Jake Paul, when you consider the experience he has and what Jake Paul‘s got, then I think he should turn it in.
“I come from a traditional background in boxing and the bottom line of it, you think a good big ‘un will beat a good little ‘un. Well, AJ didn’t look so good in his last fight, he got absolutely taken apart by Daniel Dubois.
“Jake Paul, he’s had 13 fights, that’s it. He’s stepping up. Everybody’s accusing him of ducking people. What you’ve got to take into consideration is Jake Paul is actually in the gym, has been training and is now and has been a licenced boxer.”
If AJ was to retire after a poor display, he’d do so with a reported £50m payday for this fight alone.
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Paul is 12-1 in his professional career with his sole loss coming against Tommy Fury, Tyson’s younger brother.
The difference between losing to Tommy Fury at cruiserweight – a fighter who doesn’t even have a national title to his name – versus Joshua at heavyweight with his CV, is astronomical.
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Warren said: “It’s a massive, massive step up for him, it’s a massive step up. Fighting a natural heavyweight, a big guy, a two-time heavyweight world champion, Olympic gold medallist, all that, it’s a massive, massive first step up and he’ll go in as a big underdog, a big, big underdog.
“But everyone will be watching it.
“I liken it to a car crash. [People] will buy into it, and they’ll watch it and it’ll do big, big numbers.”
Joshua is indeed a two-time heavyweight champion, but when trying for his third reign in September 2024, he was crushed by the younger and hungrier Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium.
Prior to that, Joshua had taken an exhibition contest against former UFC heavyweight champion and owner of the most powerful punch on the planet, Francis Ngannou.
Joshua, 36, decimated the Cameroonian, scoring a second-round knockout on a man who Tyson Fury struggled to a points victory over.
An eventual clash between Fury and Joshua is still the dream for many fight fans and the biggest money-spinner in the sport, despite losing its lustre over the last few years.
The Gypsy King has claimed he is retired – for the fifth time – and he has claimed the only fight he would return for is another crack at Oleksandr Usyk, the unified heavyweight champion Fury has lost twice to.
But Saudi official-turned boxing kingpin Turki Al-Sheikh remains determined to make Joshua v Fury and Warren has suggested movement on Fury’s future could be imminent.
Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua – all the info
A true Christmas miracle!
The world will stand still come December 19 as the face of British boxing Anthony Joshua is all set to go up against social media sensation Jake Paul.
AJ steps in on a month’s notice after Paul’s ‘David vs Goliath’ Gervonta Davis clash was axed due to Tank’s civil suit case.
And Joshua will be desperate not to suffer the same fate as legends Mike Tyson and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr who both lost to YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul.
Particularly as a handsome figure was negotiated to get this Judgement Day deal over the line due to AJ’s DAZN contract.
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Warren said: “If he’s going to come back he’ll make his decision and he’ll do that fairly soon I think if he’s going to do it.
“He’s indicated he wants to. It’s not just whether he wants to. It’s also the finances and what the deal would be. Let’s see what happens.”
