The boxing world is certainly divided when it comes to the fight set to take place on Friday 19th December between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul.
Irish boxing fans will be able to watch the fight, which will take place at Kaseya Center in Miami, on Netflix, with the main card expected to start around 1am Saturday. The fact that the fight is on Netflix is a huge shift in how major boxing events are usually broadcast, indicating that the sport could be moving towards streaming services in the future.
Although many boxing fans won’t be calling it a fight – or tuning in – this is no exhibition or novelty event. This is a professionally sanctioned heavyweight bout, meaning that the result will be officially recorded and will have real implications for both AJ and Jake Paul.
Joshua, whose reputation has already been tarnished from accepting this fight, will lose an immense amount of credibility if he does in fact lose.
For his YouTuber opponent, however, the fight represents an opportunity to transform his status and line up future fights against current contenders. A YouTuber-turned-boxer who can genuinely beat one of the most well-known heavyweights of the modern era will certainly gain plenty of traction.
At first glance, it’s a fight that seems to come from two different worlds colliding, but that is exactly why it is one of the most talked-about sporting events of the year. But should it even be happening?
Should AJ have taken this fight?
This is the question that Irish boxing fans, journalists and former pros have been arguing about since the moment the fight was announced.
Joshua is facing a fighter whose journey began online rather than through the amateurs, and this is without doubt a massive step back from a traditional purist’s point of view, considering where he has come from and what he has won along the way.
Let’s recall those opponents. Joshua has shared the ring with Wladimir Klitschko, Alexander Povetkin, Andy Ruiz Jr, Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois. All are true boxing greats. Jake Paul, to put it plain and simple, has only come up against fellow YouTubers.
It’s no surprise that plenty of fans think that AJ shouldn’t even be entertaining the matchup – let alone agreeing to step into the ring.
Yet you can’t escape the comments online as the fight continues to capture attention. Some believe that Joshua can easily knock out Paul within seconds, and if he doesn’t, the criticism will be all over social media.
There is a sense that Joshua – a fighter who once carried the hopes of British boxing – has nothing to gain and everything to lose.
However, to truly understand why this fight is happening, fans have to look beyond sporting pride and status.
Most will know that Joshua has endured a turbulent period in recent years. High-profile defeats, training changes and shifting public interest have all played their part.
Taking this fight at least gives him a chance to be in the spotlight once again, and potentially build momentum back into his career if this isn’t to be his last fight. Let’s also not forget the extremely large payout that AJ is set to scoop.
In fact, both fighters are expected to earn enormous amounts of cash for this fight, reportedly in the tens of millions. At this stage of his career, the business side of boxing simply cannot be ignored.
The modern boxing landscape has also changed. Social media stars, influencers and crossover fighters draw huge audiences. They bring a younger fanbase into the sport – which has to be the plan long term for boxing to survive.
They sell tickets, pay-per-views and streaming subscriptions. You only have to look at the Sidemen charity football match at Wembley, which sold 90,000 tickets in minutes.
Joshua is acknowledging that reality by accepting this fight. Whether fans like it or not, boxing is now as much entertainment as it is sporting excellence.
There’s also the very simple fact that AJ will be the overwhelming favourite. For him, it may seem like a calculated risk: beat Paul, remind the world of his power, make headlines, pocket historic money, and get back in the conversation for the biggest heavyweight contests on the horizon.
So, should he have taken it? Those who believe in boxing purity will die on their sword and say no. However, those who understand boxing’s direction in today’s entertainment-driven era will accept that this is likely to be the future.
Check out the pre-match odds with Tonybet.
Rules of the fight
Despite some of the scepticism surrounding it, this fight is not being set up as a circus act. It has been sanctioned as a professional heavyweight bout under standard rules, and will be judged and recorded just like any other fight on either man’s record.
The contest is scheduled for eight three-minute rounds. Most major heavyweight matchups typically run for 12 rounds, meaning that the shorter format may benefit Paul.
That’s because it gives him a better chance of staying competitive without facing the gruelling fatigue. Joshua’s experience and power over the championship distance will not be as much of a factor in this shortened bout.
Both men will wear 10-ounce gloves, which is standard issue for heavyweight boxing. There is also a weight limit clause requiring Joshua to weigh no more than 245 pounds at the weigh-in. This is a significant adjustment for him, as he has frequently weighed well above that in past heavyweight contests.
These tweaks have already led to questions about whether the conditions favour Paul. It certainly gives Joshua less time to impose his physicality and find his rhythm.
However, even with these adjustments, Joshua remains the clear favourite to prevail.
What if Paul causes an upset?
Most agree that an upset here would be a huge shock. However, boxing history has never been short of unlikely shocks, and that element of danger is part of what makes the sport – and this fight – so intriguing.
If Paul were to win, the impact would be monumental. He would go from being a social media creator to a legitimate boxing contender in the heavyweight scene overnight. Doors that previously seemed out of reach would suddenly swing wide open and other boxers would come knocking to line up a fight with plenty of money on the line.
No doubt his promotional brand would skyrocket, while his critics would be forced to reassess everything they thought they knew about him.
For Joshua, however, a defeat would be absolutely devastating. All of his previous achievements – world titles, stadium nights, a global fanbase – would all be overshadowed by one huge mistake: choosing to step into the ring and losing to a YouTuber.
It would be a hit to his credibility that might never fully heal, especially among hardcore fans who already believe that he should never have agreed to this fight. Even a narrow, unconvincing victory would leave people questioning whether it was worth it.
Keep up to date with Tonybet
With a fight of this magnitude, betting interest is massive. Irish boxing fans who follow the sport will be looking for an angle that can land them a winner on the night and reward them for staying up.
Joshua is the clear favourite, with most expecting him to dispatch Paul inside the distance. Betting on a specific round in Joshua’s favour could be the best bet for the fight.
For those who like to stay involved in the action, be sure to check the latest updates and markets on Tonybet as the fight draws closer.
