Simon Jordan: Anthony Joshua didn’t want to KO Jake Paul early – it was for entertainment but everybody won
Simon Jordan believes Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua was nothing more than entertainment, with fight ultimately serving its purpose.
Paul and Joshua met in a somewhat farcical clash, which proved to be the exact mismatch that the boxing world expected.
Joshua left Paul with a broken jaw and a shattered boxing reputation, having finally found the mark in the sixth round, dropping him four times in total.
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It was a big blow to the strange reputation that the ‘Problem Child’ had accepted as a boxing superstar, despite fighting limited opposition.
Naturally, many criticised the underwhelming spectacle which saw Paul simply try and survive and provide no competition to AJ.
Joshua himself was even frustrated that he didn’t get the stoppage earlier, suggesting to talkSPORT that he deserved criticism.
However talkSPORT’s Jordan believes Joshua would have held back to save the entertainment side of the event, and give fans more than a quickfire demolition job.
He said: “Depends what you think this was. I never thought this was anything other than entertainment.
“Anthony Joshua could have knocked Jake Paul out any time he wanted too. He didn’t want too.
“When you are on an entertainment platform like Netflix, why would you want to knock someone out in 30 seconds?
“Jake Paul proved he could run, but with due respect to the situation Anthony Joshua didn’t throw any meaningful punches.
“But he’s been broken into the US as a media star now and Netflix got their content, and Paul did what he did.
“So everybody wins. The bottom line is, you take nothing from this, it was an entertainment product.”
Jordan’s final verdict on Joshua
Despite suggesting Joshua didn’t use his full powers to wipe Paul out as soon as possible, he believes it was ultimately job done.
And it is now suggested that Joshua could have earned a shot at Fabio Wardley, who Jordan believes will be enticed by watching AJ’s display.
He continued: “Maybe it gets him a fight with Fabio Wardley now.
“Maybe it lures Fabio Wardley into the thinking he will beat this version of Joshua, and the real version of Joshua turns up.
“He took his time with Paul and had no real reason to go out there and get rid of him when he felt like it.
“Everybody knows what a legitimate fight, this wasn’t one. It did [restore faith in boxing].”
What next for Anthony Joshua?
Joshua is anticipated to return in February or March 2026 as he looks to keep up his activity after a year out of the ring before beating Paul.
