The boxing world inches nearer to what might be considered one of 2025’s most controversial spectacles as Jake Paul is ready to face Anthony Joshua on December 19 on the Kaseya Heart in Miami, with the eight-round heavyweight bout scheduled to stream reside on Netflix. Because the battle approaches, former two-time heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs has raised questions on whether or not the matchup won’t be what it seems on the floor.
Repair Issues From a Two-Time Heavyweight Champion Forward of Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua
Briggs, who skilled Jake Paul early in his boxing journey, spoke in an interview with Bloody Elbow. He articulated a skepticism that echoes by way of boxing circles each time a big expertise hole exists between rivals. His feedback centered on one core uncertainty: what precisely occurs when the bell rings.
“I don’t know what they obtained organized. I don’t know if he’s going to go mild on him or he’s going to go all out. We’re going to see, although. I need to see, for certain,” Briggs mentioned. For a bout positioned as a serious Netflix occasion, questions on legitimacy carry weight, particularly when the ability disparity appears pronounced.
Briggs then turned his focus to what he views because the essential threshold for the battle’s credibility. Joshua, the 36-year-old former two-time heavyweight champion, possesses knockout energy that outlined his profession throughout years of competitors. The British fighter stands roughly three inches taller than Paul and carries a big benefit in skilled expertise, having confronted the world’s elite competitors all through his tenure at heavyweight.
“I can’t consider it. It’s humorous that it’s occurring. Joshua is a giant man, taller than me, sturdy. If he don’t knock him out within the first spherical, I’m going to start out smelling fishes,” Briggs continued, his language revealing a fighter’s eye for detecting mismatches.
On one stage, Briggs’ evaluation {that a} professional Joshua, combating at full capability, ought to eliminate Paul shortly given the expertise and bodily variations. On one other, it displays boxing’s longstanding cynicism about predetermined outcomes or contractual preparations that may compromise aggressive integrity.
Paul enters the battle with a 12-1 skilled file, together with seven knockouts, however his opposition has largely consisted of retired fighters, celebrities, and getting old boxing personalities slightly than energetic world-class competitors. Joshua, returning after a fifteen-month layoff following his knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024, represents a dramatic step up in opposition high quality. But questions linger about Joshua’s motivation, his bodily situation after such prolonged time away, and the monetary preparations that may affect how each fighters strategy the bout.
Briggs’ connection to Paul provides his observations specific resonance. He witnessed the YouTuber’s early improvement in boxing, coaching him when Paul was transitioning from on-line content material creation to the game. This insider perspective positions Briggs as somebody who understands Paul’s capabilities past what informal observers may acknowledge, but he nonetheless expresses clear skepticism concerning the integrity of what’s scheduled to unfold.
