The controversial question of whether one-time YouTuber Jake Paul is a real fighter could very well be finalized tonight in his fight with two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
Paul and Joshua are both heavy-hitting fighters. However, Joshua has one main difference from Paul that separates them: He only fights real boxers.
The only non-professional boxer Joshua has faced was heavyweight Francis Ngannou, who he fought just three years after Ngannou won a championship title. Paul’s opponents throughout the years have mostly been retired MMA fighters who don’t have much professional boxing experience.
Paul has defeated the best boxer of all time – Mike Tyson – but when Tyson was at the ripe old age of 58; he beat Nate Diaz, a retired MMA fighter who was mostly known for being good at getting beaten up, and he knocked out retired NBA player Nate Robinson, who was a decade older than Paul at the time.
Seemingly obvious videos of Tyson pulling his punches do not help Paul’s case. Accusations have arisen that Paul allegedly has been rigging his fights.
But Paul does deserve his credit where it’s due.
He has gone 2-1 in his fights against actual professional boxers, with his only loss coming from Tommy Fury. He knocked out a former UFC fighter and bare-knuckle fighter, Mike Perry. He shows skill and power throughout his fights, and knocking out an MMA fighter is still not an easy task.
Joshua has a record of 28-3. With 25 knockouts and the weight advantage, he might be Paul’s only opponent to have a stronger punch.
If Paul wins this fight, it would be a major upset and finally solidify him as a serious boxer despite his past.
The fight will be available to stream on Netflix.
