Joshua Accused of ‘Selling His Soul’ Amid Jake Paul Fight Talks
Anthony Joshua has been accused of ‘selling his soul’ as talk over a potential fight with Jake Paul heats up.
Joshua is looking for his next opponent after having been knocked out by Daniel Dubois in his last fight. Prior to the fight, Joshua expressed his desire to become a three-weight world champion as the IBF belt was up for grabs. Joshua has undergone elbow surgery after picking up an injury following the Dubois fight, as the attention turns to his next fight. Joshua had been vocal about his desire to fight Tyson Fury, but the latter’s retirement means that is now off the table.
Joshua has previously boxed Francis Ngannou, knocking him out in the second round. The fight was questioned since Ngannou only had one fight before this, losing to Tyson Fury in a split decision. However, facing Paul races further questions. Paul’s resume is filled mostly with wins against non-pro boxers, losing to Tommy Fury, the first pro boxer he faced. Paul is also coming off a unanimous decision win against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. While Paul fight will no doubt earn Joshua a massive payday, former UFC fighter Molly McCann has accused AJ of selling out.
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“I’m not here for it. He’s selling his soul for money, do you know what I mean? It’s like what, lad, have you not got enough? […] Turn it in lad. Why don’t we just leave this stuff alone?,” McCann said
Consequences
The long-term consequence of this could be damning. If top fighters are consistently choosing these “gimmick” fights over challenging contenders, it devalues world titles and makes the path to becoming a champion less meaningful. A fight with Paul, no matter the financial gain, does nothing to enhance Joshua’s legacy.
A fight between Joshua and Paul also raises serious concerns about fighter safety. While Paul has been a consistent presence in boxing for a few years, he is still a developing fighter with a limited skillset compared to a two-time former unified heavyweight champion. Joshua is a power-punching heavyweight with an Olympic gold medal and years of experience at the highest level of professional boxing. Paul, by contrast, has been knocking out people who are not, and were never, professional boxers.
The potential fight also creates a problematic narrative for boxing’s future. The rise of social media influencers in boxing, however, shifts the focus from the sport itself to the personalities involved. Instead of drawing fans in with the promise of a classic showdown between two of the best heavyweights, a Joshua-Paul fight markets itself on the notoriety of one fighter and the star power of the other. It reduces boxing to a celebrity event.
