WBA, IBF and WBC heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has delivered a damning description of Anthony Joshua’s upcoming bout with Jake Paul.
The two-time undisputed boxing heavyweight champion made this comment in an interview according to Boxing Scene ahead of Joshua’s bout against YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul on December 19 in Miami.
The lucrative bout, which will earn each fighter $50 million, has been largely panned by several stakeholders with American heavyweight boxer Jermaine Franklin calling the bout “rubbish”.
After voicing his wish to fight Deontay Wilder next year, Ukrainian boxer Usyk made his prediction for the upcoming bout. (Click highlighted text to read full story)
“If Anthony Joshua wants [to], he can kill this guy-Jake Paul.”
Oleksandr Usyk poses for a photo with the title belts after victory over Daniel Dubois (not pictured) following their IBF, IBO, WBC and WBO World Heavyweight titles’ fight on the ‘Undisputed’ fight (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
“There are a lot of questions but there is only one answer, Anthony Joshua is an Olympic Champion [in 2012] first, Jake Paul is a sportsman, youtuber, a showman. That’s [like comparing a] Rolls-Royce and Fiat. It’s just true” Usyk said in a paraphrased statement.
USA’s Jake Paul fights during his cruiserweight boxing match against Mexico’s Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
The fight against Jake Paul would be Joshua’s first after getting knocked out by Daniel Dubois in 2024.
Coach Derrick James speaks to Anthony Joshua in between rounds during the Heavyweight fight between Anthony Joshua and Jermaine Franklin at The O2 Arena on April 01, 2023 (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)