Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua: Is the crossover contest harmful or daring? | ‘I worry for him’

Anthony Joshua might show to be too harmful an opponent for Jake Paul, warns former world champion Richie Woodhall.

Joshua will field YouTuber turned prizefighter Paul over eight rounds on December 19.

There’s a gulf between them in school, expertise and sheer measurement.

Paul has had 13 professional fights, profitable all however 12 however he is by no means fought a heavyweight in his prime. In actual fact he is solely weighed in over the cruiserweight restrict as soon as, and that got here towards a 58-year-old Mike Tyson.

In distinction Joshua has been knowledgeable fighter for greater than 12 years and received the Olympic Video games earlier than that. He is twice been a unified heavyweight world champion and is a famous power-puncher. Of his 28 profession victories, 25 have come inside the gap.

Richie Woodhall, a former world champion and Olympic medallist himself, advised Sky Sports activities: “In right this moment’s boxing I did not assume there could be something that stunned me anymore.

“I feel it is a actually harmful contest. And I do not care how a lot cash is concerned, you might be critically harm in boxing. If AJ connects with the suitable hand that we all know he can do, he’ll land within the subsequent universe, Jake Paul will, it is fairly easy.

“So it’s a really dangerous fight. It’s a dangerous fight for a full-time professional boxer who’s been in the game a long time just to fight AJ, especially if you’re giving that type of weight away.

“Any boxer if you happen to’re giving that kind of weight away then it is actually, actually harmful if you happen to have been a full-time professional. I have been impressed with Jake Paul really for all that it is price. He is fairly respectable however he is clearly a novice and that is the way in which I see it.”

Though Joshua will significantly outweigh Paul on the night time, for the primary time in his profession AJ must make weight. He has agreed to the stipulation that he cannot weigh in over 245lbs for the bout.

However that weight restrict at 245lbs will not be as little as Woodhall anticipated. “That will make him probably take it a little bit more serious and get into shape. I’m absolutely amazed,” he stated.

“I bet AJ’s licking his lips, he just can’t believe it. I do believe now that there’s not a weight restriction, as in he’s only got to come down to 240 odd, that will make him even probably more switched on for the fight because he’s got to train hard to get down to that weight. I just think it’s a really dangerous fight for Jake Paul.

“It has been sanctioned [in Florida]. Would it not be sanctioned over right here [in Britain]? I do not know. It has been sanctioned over there. It is only a harmful state of affairs the place somebody can get critically harm. God forbid nothing like that does occur. If it was to occur, everybody might see it coming.

“I really fear for Jake Paul.”

Woodhall understands simply how massive a puncher Joshua is from first-hand expertise. As a coach on the GB squad, Woodhall has finished rounds of padwork with him.

“AJ’s still a really decent heavyweight, good enough again to be a world champion I think. I’ve took him on the pads, I know how hard he hits,” Woodhall stated.

“I’ve been on this [GB] programme since 2009, so many, many years, I’ve never felt a right hand like I did against AJ. He’s the hardest hitting rear-hand fighter that we’ve had on this programme that I’ve felt. His power was absolutely phenomenal.

“I might say that Daniel Dubois had the toughest jab I’ve ever felt on the programme, however proper hand-wise it was AJ. If he connects with that … I do know it is solely an eight rounder however eight rounds is a very long time.

“Jake Paul’s going to want to make it entertaining, he’s going to want to have a go, it’s a dangerous fight.”

Adeleye: Paul no pushover

British heavyweight David Adeleye, who has educated within the health club with Paul, is extra sanguine in regards to the occasion.

“I’ve got to give Jake his credit though. A lot of people don’t give Jake his credit for even choosing this fight,” Adeleye stated.

“Everyone Jake gets in the ring with all know about his power. So one thing we have to accept is Jake’s no fool as well. He’s no pushover.

“It is a good struggle.

“We’re all obviously going to be tuning in. It’s going to be interesting,” he added. “You go back years, Muhammad Ali was doing exhibitions, Floyd Mayweather was doing exhibitions.

“It’s what it’s. If there’s one other YouTuber that is a heavyweight that wants a dance accomplice, simply name me.”