Anthony Joshua Reveals What He Spotted in Jake Paul Contract Amid ‘Script’ Claim
Anthony Joshua has revealed the detail in his Jake Paul fight contract which caught his "attention" amid a debate about the bout being "scripted".
Paul and Joshua square off in a heavyweight superfight in Miami on Friday night, with the encounter being streamed around the world on Netflix and poised to break viewing figures.
The bout came about following on from Paul's fight with Gervonta Davis being cancelled due to a domestic abuse lawsuit against the three-weight world champion.
Paul's boxing exploits have largely seen him take on old MMA fighters and boxers, with his only defeat coming against Tommy Fury in a split decision loss in Saudi Arabia back in February 2023.
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However, business has picked up and he now takes on a two-time heavyweight champion in Joshua, who is currently without a ranking after inactivity since his devastating defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024.
Joshua, who must weigh in at 245lbs for the weigh-in, has made it clear that he will not be taking it easy and is out to "kill" Paul.
Despite that, former WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder caused a stir by claiming that the fight is "scripted a little bit" in a recent interview.
While Joshua's long-time promoter Eddie Hearn has been vocal about suggestions the bout is rigged - Joshua himself felt the need to address it in Wednesday's pre-fight press conference.
After a bizarre face-off, Joshua claimed the contract immediately caught his eye but only for financial reasons.
"There's nothing in the contract and we're not worried about what opinions are - whether it's Wilder, Fury, whoever," Joshua said when asked about Wilder's claims.
"The only thing that was in the contract that got my attention was the money. Other than that I don't worry about nothing else."
The fight will be contested under professional rules, with eight, three-minute rounds and 10 ounce gloves. However, Hearn has confirmed that in a significant change, the ring size will be 22x22 feet as opposed to the standard 20x20.
In responding to claims from Wilder and others, Paul said that he will "give them a cease and desist letter through their door" and added that "the lawsuit is coming right after".
He also said that after his trilogy with Fury and the punishment he took, Wilder is "clearly not the smartest guy" as he confirmed he and Joshua are "going to war".
Paul and Joshua have completed their open workouts and will face off one more time after the weigh-in before locking horns inside the squared circle.
How to watch Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua if you don’t have Netflix
If you don’t already have Netflix, there is a workaround to essentially get it for ‘free’ as part of a bargain bundle.
Sky is currently offering its ‘Stream on Screen’ package - including Netflix, discovery+ and much more - for just £15/ month. It’s Sky’s lowest-ever price and will allow you to watch the big fight live along with Sky Atlantic, Sky Stream and Sky Essential TV.
Browse deals here.
Topics: Anthony Joshua, Jake Paul, Deontay Wilder
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