Breaking News: Jake Paul's Unexpected Opponent - Why Anthony Joshua?
On November 17th, the boxing world buzzed with the announcement: Jake Paul would be stepping into the ring against Anthony Joshua in a professional heavyweight bout. This fight was slated for December 19th in Miami, Florida. But what led to this surprising matchup on such short notice?
It all boils down to timing and opportunity. Netflix was eager to feature Paul in a fight card before the end of 2025. Originally, Paul was scheduled to face Gervonta "Tank" Davis on November 14th, but that bout fell through. This created a scramble to find a suitable replacement.
Reportedly, Paul's team reached out to several prominent names, including Ryan Garcia, Terence Crawford, and Francis Ngannou. However, the first to publicly decline was Garcia. Interestingly, it wasn't Garcia himself, but his Golden Boy promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, who shut down the possibility. De La Hoya's reasoning was straightforward: Garcia is under contract with DAZN, while Paul fights on Netflix. He emphasized the contractual obligations, stating, "That's pretty much the bottom line."
But here's where it gets controversial... even though Joshua is also under contract with DAZN, his Matchroom promoter, Eddie Hearn, managed to navigate a path for this fight to happen.
Ryan Garcia's Perspective
During a November 17th episode of Ring Magazine's Inside the Ring, Garcia offered his insights into Paul's decision. He questioned the choice, saying, "This fight [against Joshua] is probably the worst fight that Jake Paul could have took. Out of all the fights he probably had a choice, you know?" He highlighted the significant weight difference, noting the challenge of moving from 135 pounds to 225 pounds.
When asked why Paul might have chosen Joshua, Garcia suggested it was driven by a desire for a high-profile fight. "He's just addicted to doing huge fights," Garcia explained. "He's always looking for the guy that can make the most noise. All his picks that he has fought in the pros, has been guys that have some names."
Garcia speculated that Paul might be targeting Joshua's perceived vulnerability, possibly believing he could land a knockout blow. He added, "He's probably thinking, 'Anthony Joshua, maybe his chin is suspect. Maybe he's not even thinking about me, so I'm going to come in and somehow hit him with my right hand.' Because he believes that his right hand is as strong as [Deontay] Wilder."
Garcia even referenced Daniel Dubois's ability to drop Joshua with a right hand, suggesting Paul might be thinking, "Oh. I can do that. That's my shot."
Whatever the reasoning, Paul faces a formidable challenge against Joshua. What do you think about Paul's decision to fight Joshua? Do you agree with Garcia's assessment, or do you have a different perspective? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
