Bernard Hopkins has had his say on Jake Paul‘s upcoming fight with Anthony Joshua.
Joshua has been out of action for more than 12 months, ever since he was stopped inside five rounds in an IBF world title fight with Daniel Dubois last year. Many expected him to have a straightforward comeback fight but no one thought the opponent would be novice pro Paul.
‘The Problem Child’ has fought mostly MMA fighters or older boxers and long retired stars such as Mike Tyson and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, with his one loss coming against the somewhat legitimate fighter he faced back in 2023, Tommy Fury.
Paul will be the much shorter, much lighter man against a notoriously big puncher and former two-time unified world champion.
Speaking to Seconds Out, former multi-weight world champion Hopkins explained why he thinks Paul is deserving of the shot.
“I’m glad to see Jake Paul to be able to get a chance to prove that he’s worthy of being respected in the world of boxing. We’ve all been waiting for Jake Paul to fight someone. This is an opportunity for Jake Paul now, fighting Joshua, to say ‘hey, I belong here now, I’m worthy.’ I don’t think anyone can deny that.
“People can have suspicions about how it’s going to go, whether it’s scripted. No, Joshua is going in there to prove Jake Paul is not on the level of a top-rated fighter, boxer in that division or any division. He’s got a lot on the line too – he don’t want to lose to what people would say is not a bona fide contender. I say he is. I say he earned that.”
Joshua has recognised that Paul is a “serious” fighter but has insisted he will do a demolition job on him ahead of bigger, more legitimate fights in 2026.
