Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Jake Paul, Anthony Joshua, Boxing, Tony Bellew, Heavyweight Boxing
James Taylor
Topics: Jake Paul, Anthony Joshua, Boxing, Tony Bellew, Heavyweight Boxing
Tony Bellew has revealed his true feelings on Jake Paul fighting the former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua later this month.
Paul and Joshua are set to meet in a sanctioned heavyweight bout at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida on December 19.
They will fight over eight three-minute rounds, with both fighters wearing ten ounce gloves.
The announcement has prompted concern from many within the boxing world, with plenty doubting how prepared Paul is to take on a former heavyweight world champion.
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The YouTuber-turned-boxer only became professional five years ago and had originally been set to fight lightweight world champion Gervonta Davis last month.
Meanwhile, Joshua has not fought since September 2024 when he was knocked out by Daniel Dubois, but he is still regarded as one of the best heavyweights of his generation.
American boxer Ryan Garcia was among the first to question whether the bout will go ahead, describing it as "too much of a disadvantage."
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Paul hit back at those comments, insisting he will deliver "the biggest upset in boxing history" later this month.
Bellew has now become the latest to express his doubts about the fight taking place.
He told IFL TV: "I still don't believe it. How can you believe it's going to happen?...
"It's insane, it's madness, but no one can knock Joshua because he's just madness.
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"I can't get my head round it, I just don't believe he's going to be in the ring facing Joshua with 10 ounce gloves on.
"When he touches him for the first time with a pair of 10 ounce gloves on, he's going to get the fright of his life."
The bout, which will be shown live on Netflix, is expected to bring in a huge amount of money.
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According to the Daily Mail, there will be a prize pot of £140 million, which will be split evenly between Joshua and Paul.
Bellew continued: "Of course I get why it's happening, for that kind of money you would probably fight them both at once.
"Fair play to them, get paid.
"Once you've won the titles you desire and your dreams are fulfilled in boxing, boxing is purely about making as much as you can as quickly as you can.
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"And this is ticking both of them boxes off well, well done to both."
Although Bellew continued to express his doubts about the fight going ahead, there are now just over two weeks until the pair are due to step into the ring.