Jake Paul is set to take on one of the biggest risks of his boxing career Friday night when he faces former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua at Kaseya Center in Miami.
The odds on a Paul win are quite long, as he has built his professional career largely against crossover athletes and former champions well past their prime. However, fighters are split on the bout, with some refusing to count him out, according to CBS Sports.
Key Takeaways
- Jake Paul steps into the ring against the most experienced and dangerous opponent of his professional boxing career.
- Most professional fighters believe Joshua's size, power, and experience make him a clear favorite.
- A small group of fighters believes Joshua's recent knockouts suffered leave room for a possible Paul upset.
Joshua is an Olympic gold medalist and a two-time unified heavyweight champion. While recent losses to Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois show he may no longer sit among boxing's top tier of heavyweights, he remains a proven knockout puncher with championship-level experience. The gap in experience and technical skill fuels concern among many fighters, with several questioning why the bout is taking place at all.
Usyk, per Ring Magazine, said Joshua could "kill" Paul in the ring if he wanted to. Tyson Fury isn't so sure, saying on Instagram he's figuratively "putting a million pounds on Jake Paul."
A minority of fighters back Paul's chances, Demetrious Johnson and Rolando Romero among them. They point to Joshua's recent knockout losses, suggesting he could be exposed by a single clean shot. Heavyweight boxing can turn quickly, and Paul's confidence, size, and power give him a narrow path to victory if he lands his punches early.
More fighters, past and present, favor Joshua, a few of which include Roy Jones Jr., Lennox Lewis, and Tommy Fury. They refer to his tough bouts with Tommy and how difficult it is for anyone to withstand unrelenting pressure by a heavyweight champion. They admit this bout will be lucrative for both fighters and lots of fun to watch, but they believe experience and size will likely carry the day for Joshua.
DraftKings lists Joshua at -1,200 to win, Paul at +600. FanDuel is close, giving Joshua -1,200 and Paul +700.
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High-profile wager adds momentum to discussion around fight
The wager talk related to this boxing match has also escalated after a $5-million bet was placed by Jon Peters, a movie producer, in support of Paul. This wager may translate to as much as $50 million if everything goes according to plan.
Peters explained the bet is well-thought-out, rather than being merely for publicity. Peters cited Paul’s mentality, training methods, and appetite for risk as the reasons behind his confidence. Peters admitted the risk is huge, but he's confident Paul has developed as a person and has a belief in
himself.
Betting on the match generated more debate for bettors, as popular personalities join major boxing contests. While Joshua has an advantage over Paul in experience and the ability to knock out opponents, bettors are largely divided on whether the unpredictable nature and punching power of the latter could surprise.
