As big-fight verdicts go it does not get much more brutal than this – Dereck Chisora on Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul.
The boxing world went into meltdown on Wednesday with the news that AJ (28-4) and ‘The Problem Child’ are in talks over a potential heavyweight showdown in Miami in December. In front of an enormous audience on streaming platform Netflix.
READ MORE: Jake Paul fight is gold-plated pension plan for Anthony Joshua
This potential match is of course not everybody’s cup of tea – with hardcore boxing fans and fighters absolutely hating the fact that a Youtuber is making countless millions off the sport.
The 28-year-old Jake has only had 13 pro fights, but he commands top dollar and draws massive audiences – notably the 108million who tuned in to Netflix to watch his decision win over a 58-year-old Mike Tyson in Texas last November.
This one though would not be against a 58-year-old – it would be against a 36-year-old two-time world heavyweight champion who is coming back from elbow surgery and desperate to return to the summit of the sport one day.
Joshua is a knockout puncher and taking on a man who lost to Fury (Tommy Fury, the Love Island guy, not Tyson Fury) should be a low-risk, big-reward assignment. AJ just has to make sure he doesn’t fumble the bag.
In fact it is such a potential mismatch that no less a judge than respected boxing exec Lou DiBella described it as “an unsafe abomination”.
Chisora on Joshua vs Jake Paul
The 41-year-old British veteran Chisora, who has been in with most of the top heavyweights in a 36-13 career, is perfectly placed to give a verdict on what could happen inside the ropes. And he pulled no punches in an interview with Seconds Out (watch the full conversation at the foot of this page.
Chisora has no time for the Jake Paul bandwagon, and he said: “Listen. I’m buzzing, and we can lay that f***ing Jake Paul nonsense to rest. So if the fight happens, somebody better go to jail.”
Joshua is coming off a devastating fifth-round knockout loss to Daniel Dubois last September, and Chisora believes that will give Paul some hope. Probably false hope.
“Right now Jake Paul will be watching the last fight AJ had and he’s gonna jump on it. It’s all about AJ dealing with what he, the man in front of him, but, whatever happens will be exciting.”
Chisora believes Paul, who has largely fought at cruiserweight (200lbs) up to now, will have the power to trouble Joshua. Even an ageing Joshua who was knocked down in four out of five rounds by Dubois.
Asked how the fight ends, Dereck said simply: “Jake Paul going in an ambulance, bro.”
If Joshua, as expected, prevails against Jake then the drums will once again beat for that long-awaited all-British blockbuster vs Tyson Fury. Chisora says it is a bout that will finally happen.
“The Tyson Fury fight is coming. You will have your Tyson Fury in by the summertime. I can guarantee that.”
While some believe that Joshua will be tarnishing his legacy by fighting Paul, Chisora has a very different view. One that is all about business and a financial payday.
“It’s business, bro, of course. Yeah, why not. I would take it. Yeah, I’d f***ing fight Conor Benn, I’d take the fight Eubank. I’ll fight anybody, I’d fight a guy in a wheelchair, bro. As long as they pay me I’ll f*** that motherf***er up. I don’t mind.”
