Why the Jake Paul fight makes perfect sense for Anthony Joshua

In one of boxing’s most surreal announcements yet, Anthony Joshua is set to meet YouTuber-turned-fighter Jake Paul at the Kaseya Center in Miami on December 19.

Influencers have tightened their grip on combat sports in recent years — largely thanks to the Paul brothers — and what started with Logan’s rivalry with KSI has snowballed into a full-blown sideshow.

Logan shared a ring with Floyd Mayweather in 2020; Jake then shocked the world by beating Mike Tyson on the cards last November. Now, astonishingly, Jake has talked and hustled his way into a fight with AJ.

It’s a matchup that has split opinion across boxing and beyond, and as hype grows, Anthony Joshua odds are already a major talking point.

Traditionalists see this as another step in boxing’s slide toward circus entertainment. But whether fans are excited or disgusted, the truth is simple: for Joshua, the fight makes absolute sense.

Joshua is no longer the unstoppable force he once was. At 36, with four career defeats and over a year out of the ring since being beaten by Daniel Dubois, he was originally expected to ease back with a low-profile tune-up bout on someone’s undercard this winter — the kind of fight that barely makes headlines and pays a fraction of what he once earned. In that parallel world, he might have pocketed around a million pounds at best.

Instead, the Paul fight hands him the perfect scenario: global attention on Netflix, a soft opponent by heavyweight standards, and a payday most fighters can only dream of — upwards of £50 million.

From a career-management perspective, it’s genius. Critics say sharing a ring with Paul tarnishes his legacy, and a sluggish performance (or unthinkably, a loss) would provide ammunition for detractors. But let’s be honest: many have already drawn their conclusions about AJ’s career after the Usyk defeats and the Dubois loss. This bout won’t change minds either way.

There has also been plenty of debate about the supposed “danger” of fighting Paul. Realistically, though, the risk is tiny. Paul is a brave and committed novice, but Joshua is a former unified heavyweight champion.

Even the wildest conspiracy theories suggesting the fight could be “fixed” don’t change the basic reality: AJ should dominate from the opening bell. For punters checking the boxing odds, it’s one of the most predictable matchups they’ll ever see at this level.

And the rewards don’t stop there. Taking this fight now likely sets Joshua up for a monster showdown with Tyson Fury in 2026 — a fight arriving much later than it should have, but still a guaranteed blockbuster that would add another huge payday to his retirement fund.

So yes, this bout may highlight the uncomfortable direction boxing is heading. Yes, it may feel like a low point for purists who long for the sport’s traditional hierarchy. But for Joshua, it’s the smartest move available: minimal danger, enormous financial upside, renewed global visibility, and a clear runway to one final mega-fight.

Given all that, it’s no surprise he said yes. In his position, almost anyone would.