Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul might not step into the ring together after all. The proposed fight between the former world heavyweight champion and the influencer-turned-boxer is losing steam. Joshua's trainer Ben Davison and promoter Eddie Hearn have raised serious concerns about the match-up.
The idea, initially backed by Turki Alalshikh, has cooled off. Davison, Joshua's trainer, worries about Paul's safety. He told reporters:
"How can people even talk about this? It's a safety issue. Jake Paul could get seriously hurt. This type of fight could force a reevaluation of the sport... but only after a tragedy occurs."
Davison's concerns stem from the huge gap in experience. Paul has never faced an active professional boxer, while Joshua is a former elite champion.
Eddie Hearn, Joshua's promoter, doesn't think the fight will happen. He points to Paul's financial demands as a major roadblock. Paul reportedly wants $40 million for the fight, which Hearn calls unrealistic.
"I don't trust him to take the fight. Francis Ngannou would destroy him, and AJ would be out of the question," Hearn said.
Other boxing figures have weighed in too. Derek Chisora praised Paul for bringing new fans to boxing but warned, "He would destroy him." Rolly Romero stirred up debate on social media by claiming Paul could knock out Joshua.
The fight looks unlikely to happen. The physical and technical differences between the two are just too big. There's also a huge experience gap. Many feel it's an unnecessary risk that could make boxing look bad.
Joshua will probably face a more established opponent in December. As for Paul, he might want to choose his battles more carefully if he wants to be taken seriously in boxing.
