BBC Sport breaks down one of the most controversial fights of the decade, as Britain's Anthony Joshua says he will not carry Jake Paul for one second longer than he has to.

When Anthony Joshua made his professional debut against Emmanuel Leo in 2013, fresh from Olympic gold in London, the boxing world treated it like the start of a coronation.

At roughly the same time, a 16-year-old prankster from Ohio named Jake Paul was posting six-second Vine videos - chatting to pineapples in supermarkets and climbing into strangers’ shopping trolleys for a laugh.

More than a decade later, through wildly different routes, the pair have arrived at the same place.

This Friday, in Miami, they will share a ring in a professional heavyweight contest that still feels faintly unreal.

  • nostrauxendar@lemmy.worldEnglish
    5·
    2 hours ago

    It’ll be the same story as the Tyson fight. No big KO, Paul wins on decision, Joshua gets a big payout. Guess this is Joshua getting one last monster payday before getting out with his brain intact.

    Don’t pay to watch rigged fights. The world has been rewarding the Paul dynasty with money and attention for bad behaviour for over a decade now. It’s a sorry state of affairs.

  • HellsBelle@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
    71·
    6 hours ago

    I was a big boxing fan back in the late 70’s and 80’s. Hearns, Sugar Ray, Marvelous Marvin, Spinks, Duran, Tyson … the list was filled with some of the greatest fighters who’ve ever lived. Trust me when I say I’ve watched some wicked battles in my day.

    This won’t be one of them. It’s gonna be a slaughter from the get-go. I dunno if I’m gonna watch, but if I do it’ll only be in the hope that Jake Paul gets his ass whooped.

    • Old Jimmy Twodicks@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      7·
      6 hours ago

      It’s the only reason anybody watches any of his fights, but the dickweed keeps winning. Everything about this fight suggests that he’s gonna finally get his face caved in, but I’m not holding my breath.

      • HellsBelle@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
        5·
        6 hours ago

        I’ve only ever watched ‘highlights’ of his fights, mostly because he wasn’t a pro and I expected him to lose … which he didn’t.

        This time is different. It’s a pro-sanctioned fight and if the tale of the tape is any indication Jake will be lucky if he walks out of the ring.