Despite widespread scrutiny aimed at Jake Paul, at least one major figure in the fighting community believes Paul could be heading toward a title shot.
Key Takeaways
- Georges St-Pierre believes a win over Anthony Joshua could push Jake Paul into legitimate title contention.
- While Joshua is the clear favorite, St-Pierre says Paul’s momentum and the unpredictability of boxing give him a shot.
- St-Pierre added that despite match-fixing speculation, he expects a great, and legitimate, bout between the two superstars.
Georges St-Pierre told Covers betting analyst Joe Osborne that beating Anthony Joshua, the betting favorite, on Friday night could put Paul in serious title contention for the first time.
“He’s taking a big risk, but that’s where he’s at in his career right now,” the former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion said Monday. “If he (wins), we might see him going for a title.”
St-Pierre was quite laudatory of the 28-year-old influencer-turned-pro fighter, applauding Paul’s smarts and business acumen in the entertainment world. The Canadian fighter also expressed, however, that this rise wasn’t merely based on those credentials.
“It’s an incredible story. You look at his journey, I’m not a Jake Paul hater, I actually admire him,” St-Pierre added.
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Could Paul pull off upset?
Asked by Osborne whether Paul could do the unthinkable and defeat Joshua - who is 5 inches taller with a reach and weight advantage - St-Pierre indicated that while improbable, a Paul win is by no means out of the cards.
“You just need to make one mistake, you zig when you should have zagged, you got caught, and that’s it,” the 44-year-old said. “Of course, on paper the odds favor Joshua, if you look at the experience and (his) accomplishments.
“There’s one thing that favors Jake Paul ... momentum.”
Paul comes into the fight having won his last six fights and enters the match 12-1 all time with seven knockouts. Joshua, meanwhile, enters having lost his last bout, knocked out in the fifth round by Daniel Dubois.
“If I were to (play) the devil's advocate, that favors Jake Paul,” St-Pierre explained. “Of course, if you look at the size, the skills, the accomplishments, it favors Joshua.”
Any funny business?
While Paul’s fights have continued to capture the public consciousness in ways other boxing matches have failed, their high-profile nature and Paul’s increasingly stunning rise have given rise to conspiracy theories and speculation about potential match-fixing.
As far as St-Pierre is concerned, that talk is overblown.
“I think it’s going to be a real fight. I think we’re here for a treat,” the retired UFC champ said. “I think there are going to be two kinds of people that watch this fight: the people curious to see what’s going to happen ... and the people that despise Jake Paul.
“I think it’s going to be a great night.”
