-
Andreas Hale
The announcement of the heavyweight bout between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua sparked immediate calls from Paul’s detractors for Joshua, the former two-time unified heavyweight champion, to end the boxing venture of the social media star-turned-boxer. To paraphrase a famous, frequently misquoted line by Mark Twain, «Claims of Jake Paul’s downfall are highly exaggerated.»
During their Miami bout on Friday, Paul was outmatched, knocked down four times, and ultimately knocked out in the sixth round by Joshua. It was a messy affair, with Paul frequently avoiding engagement and clinching, but Joshua finally landed a devastating straight right hand that concluded the fight — and, according to Paul, resulted in a broken jaw.
In the wake of the fight, skeptics of Paul reveled in what they deemed the end of a show. Nonetheless, Paul clarified post-fight that he intends to continue his boxing journey.
«I plan to return and battle opponents my size and aim for the cruiserweight world title eventually,» Paul stated. «I’m going to take a short break. I’ve been intensely focused for six years, so I need some time off.»
Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter from Matchroom Sport, believes Paul should persist in boxing should he wish to.
«Kudos to Jake,» Hearn expressed to ESPN post-fight. «Recovering from a broken jaw is extremely tough, but that final blow AJ landed could have knocked out many heavyweights. He went down hard yet stayed conscious. It was a one-sided match — it was always going to be one-sided — but he deserves respect and credit.»
Joshua, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist from Great Britain, also shared his thoughts on Paul’s future.
it’s essential for Paul to face the right opponents, those with enough skill to make it competitive. However, if he wants to be taken seriously after 14 professional fights, he can’t revert and compete against another MMA fighter after facing a former two-time heavyweight champion. Losing to another opponent with substantially more experience is also not an option.
Paul has frequently indicated his desire to vie for a world title in the cruiserweight division, but the champions he would have to contend with present challenges. Neither IBF champion Jai Opetaia, WBO and WBA title holder Gilberto «Zurdo» Ramirez, nor WBC champion Noel Mikaelian is a recognizable name that would generate significant interest for him, and all are champions for a valid reason. Conversely, it will become more challenging for Paul to attract fans for future bouts against someone who is either significantly older, not a full-time boxer, or undersized.
When Paul decides to make a comeback, he will undoubtedly capture as much, if not more, attention. His next step will create a buzz, whether positive or negative. His willingness to face an explosive finisher like Joshua demonstrates he has the heart, tenacity, and resolve to compete. Nonetheless, there are degrees of competition, and he was clearly outmatched and outclassed. Questions will arise about his strategy of continually circling the ring while hesitating to throw punches. For someone like Paul, this approach lacked excitement, markedly contrasting with his previous bouts.
He endured significant punishment from a former heavyweight champion, managing not only to last beyond five rounds but also to rise from the canvas repeatedly until, according to a post by Paul on social media, his jaw was fractured in two locations. Despite the initial knockdown, he opted not to remain on the ground. In his fervent efforts to survive, he struggled to maintain balance and resorted to clinching attempts that led to takedowns. But this is the outcome when you surpass your limits. You risk being overwhelmed.
His detractors will continue to air their grievances, yet they will likely still begrudgingly watch the next chapter of Paul’s career unfold. His supporters will eagerly follow his every move and continue to cheer the unexpected ascent of an influencer who chose to pursue boxing as a side venture and a highly profitable endeavor. Those in between may stay intrigued based on the announcement of his next fight and his opponent.
Paul represents significant business, and there will always be a niche for someone who attracts attention to the sport in the way he does.
Ultimately, it is Paul who will need to determine whether he is ready to prioritize his business over moving closer to his goal of contending for a world title, or if he is prepared to face the backlash that may come from another so-called «circus fight» against a smaller opponent like Ryan Garcia or Gervonta «Tank» Davis. Either way, Paul has numerous choices ahead, and this journey is just beginning its next chapter.
