Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul are reportedly close to finalising a blockbuster heavyweight clash in Miami this December, and Derek Chisora has had his say.
Paul is a YouTuber turned fighter who has had 13 contests and won 12 of them, with his only loss coming to Tommy Fury, who many would argue is the only legitimate opponent he has faced. The rest of his contests have come against men much older or naturally smaller than him, including Mike Tyson and MMA star Nate Diaz.
The 28-year-old was due to face Gervonta Davis this weekend at Miami’s Kaseya Center, but the event collapsed after Davis was pulled from the card following domestic violence allegations. In the aftermath, Paul’s team pursued alternative opponents, including Ryan Garcia and Francis Ngannou before negotiations with Joshua gathered pace.
Joshua is the former two-time unified heavyweight champion and this fight would mark his first since his KO loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024.
Speaking to Seconds Out, ‘Del Boy’ was asked for his views on the contest and summed it up by claiming ‘AJ is going to kill him.’
“Listen, I’m buzzing, we can lay that f***ing Jake Paul nonsense to rest. If that fight happens, somebody better go to jail. AJ is going to kill him, it’s unfair. Someone has to go to jail.
“Right now, Jake Paul will be watching the last fight that AJ had [with Dubois], and he is going to jump on him. It’s all about [how] AJ deals with the man in front of him. Whatever happens, it will be exciting.
“He [Paul] hasn’t got the power to knock out Joshua. Jake Paul goes home in an ambulance [after that fight].
The considerable difference in size, power and experience makes this a dangerous fight for Paul, and a must-not-lose contest for Joshua if he hopes to fight on afterwards. Though some will see Chisora’s words as exaggerated, others will genuinely fear for the outcome of the event if – which may not be the case – it is sanctioned as a professional bout.
