Sky Sports pundit Johnny Nelson says Anthony Joshua has put himself in a “no-win situation” by agreeing to face YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. The former two-time unified world champion will meet Paul in an eight-round sanctioned heavyweight bout at Miami’s Kaseya Center in the early hours of Saturday, December 20 (UK time).
Nelson believes the matchup is driven more by business than legacy, suggesting money — reportedly around £50m — is the main motivator. He finds it surprising given Joshua’s stated aim to become a three-time world champion.
A 245lb contractual limit for Joshua adds another element of risk, Nelson noted, pointing out Joshua’s recent fighting weights: around 245lb when he faced Oleksandr Usyk and roughly 254lb for his stoppage loss to Daniel Dubois. That, Nelson said, means Joshua must be sharply prepared: this isn’t a lightweight exhibition and, if it’s a genuine contest, Jake Paul is taking a brave step.
Promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed both fighters will use 10oz gloves, the standard for professional heavyweight fights. Nelson accepts the bout will be treated seriously because of Joshua’s involvement, but he keeps returning to the financial rationale: if Joshua accepts this fight for the payday, there’s little upside and several damaging outcomes.
Nelson outlined the dilemma for Joshua. If he knocks Paul out, that result will silence some critics but bring limited prestige — many would have expected the favourite to dominate. If Joshua struggles or merely goes the distance, it risks harming his reputation and feeding the narrative that he’s prioritising business over sporting legacy. Fans, Nelson argues, largely want to see Paul stopped and the “great version” of Joshua back in action; if that version doesn’t appear, the public perception will be that Joshua has become more of a prizefighter chasing paydays than a contender rebuilding towards world titles.
Joshua has not fought since his shock knockout by Daniel Dubois in their IBF world heavyweight title clash last September, and Nelson questioned how realistic it is for AJ to regain his very best form. He suggested the window for Joshua to become world champion again is narrowing and flagged Tyson Fury as the biggest non-Joshua name currently dominating the heavyweight scene. Still, Nelson conceded that the present state of the division has opened commercial opportunities — for both Jake Paul and Joshua.
On Paul’s credentials, Nelson noted the YouTuber-turned-pro is 12-1 and last beat former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr on points. He predicted a harsh ending for Paul in this matchup, comparing expectations to the damage done to Paul’s contemporaries: “I would expect Paul to get knocked out, if not saved by the referee,” Nelson said.
Despite that forecast, Nelson praised Paul’s ambition and promotional savvy. He called Paul a brave and commercially astute young man who has succeeded in earning attention and building a career in boxing. Nelson gave credit where he felt it was due: well done to Jake Paul for what he’s achieved, while urging Anthony Joshua to “get the job done and show the difference in class.”