The collision course is set. This Friday night in Miami, Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua will step into the ring, a matchup that once seemed utterly impossible. Just a few short years ago, suggesting these two would share a professional boxing ring would have been met with disbelief.
Paul’s early career was defined by victories over aging MMA fighters, a path that did little to impress the established boxing world. He was, and often still is, viewed as an influencer who dabbled in boxing, a sideshow act rather than a serious contender with world title aspirations. His loss to Tommy Fury in 2023 only reinforced that perception.
Yet, Paul relentlessly pursued his ambition, calling out boxing’s biggest names. That persistence culminated in a stunning spectacle last year: luring the legendary Mike Tyson out of retirement. The fight ignited a firestorm of controversy, with accusations of a pre-determined outcome swirling across social media.
Those claims were vehemently denied by Paul and his team. In the aftermath, questions lingered about the unusual circumstances surrounding the Tyson fight. Was there something more to the outcome than met the eye?
A key figure, Paul’s business partner and the CEO of Most Valuable Promotions, addressed the accusations directly. He acknowledged a departure from traditional boxing protocols, but insisted it was designed to *protect* Tyson, not benefit Paul.
The anomaly centered around the fight’s structure: two-minute rounds instead of the standard three, and the use of 14oz gloves instead of the typical 10oz. These changes, approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations, were implemented to mitigate risk for the 58-year-old Tyson, lessening the impact of each blow.
“If that is rigging a fight, then we rigged that fight, I guess,” the CEO stated. “Because it gave Mike, not Jake, the advantage.” He emphasized that this was the sole instance in Paul’s 13 fights where anything deviated from standard boxing practice, and it was solely for Tyson’s well-being.
As the Joshua fight approaches, whispers of a pre-determined outcome have resurfaced, fueled by speculation of a WWE-style script. Joshua’s promoter dismissed these notions outright, stating bluntly that scripting a professional contest is illegal.
The promoter’s message was clear: their intention is not to participate in an exhibition, but to decisively defeat Paul. The goal, he asserted, is to “iron this guy out ASAP,” a statement that underscores the seriousness with which Joshua’s team is approaching this unconventional fight.
