By: Sean Crose
It’s pretty much a given that Anthony Joshua will be the heavy favorite when he steps into the ring to face. Jake Paul and a professional boxing match on December 19th. People will no doubt flock to watch the event, but the consensus now is that Jake is putting himself in some serious danger. Joshua likely isn’t going to take it easy on him, despite the fact that he’s not desperately over the hill and can still likely knock down a wall. Count heavyweight kingpin Oleksandr Usyk one of those who feels the only chance Paul may have. Is it getting hurt.
“If Anthony Joshua wants,” ESPN quotes Usyk as saying, “he can kill this guy.” The truth is Usyk might be right. Joshua is nothing if not a serious, highly skilled and extremely powerful professional fighter. He’s in a position in life where he can still perhaps win back a world heavyweight title. It truly does seem nearly frightening that Paul is willing to get back into the ring to face such a man… and yet here we are. “Joshua is an Olympic champion,” Usyk added. “Jake Paul, he’s a sportsman.” Usyk then went on to compare the two fighters to a Rolls-Royce and a Fiat. Guess which one Usyk thinks each is?
Usyk knows that which of he speaks. He’s defeated Joshua twice so he knows what the man is like in the ring. And even though he beat Joshua on two occasions, he’s obviously comfortable saying that Joshua will clobber Paul when they square off before Netflix cameras next Friday. Not that he wants anyone to get hurt, least of all the popular Paul. “I will pray for Jake Paul,’ he said, “because I want a fight with him in the octagon.” Usyk also has an opponent in mind for Joshua. “As a fan,” he stated, “I want a Joshua facing Fury. Listen, I will try to help.”
Those who know Usyk realize he’s a fairly easygoing guy and there’s no doubt the words he has said leading up to the Jake Paul-Anthony Joshua fight are at least partially tongue-in-cheek. He brings up a good point though. The odds here seem so great against Paul, that one has to wonder if Joshua could kill him if he wanted to. Give Paul credit, he knows what he’s getting into, and still seems clearly determined to do it.
