Jake Paul’s Injuries go From Bad to Worse Ahead of Anthony Joshua Fight
Jake Paul continues to pick up injuries during his training camp and preparations for his upcoming heavyweight fight against the former two-time boxing world champion Anthony Joshua on the 19th of December at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. Netflix will air the event.
It is perhaps indicative of how grueling the sparring sessions he’s been taking part in, just to get ready for the punches that Joshua will be throwing his way.
READ: Jake Paul Speaks Out After Ex-World Champion Claims Anthony Joshua Fight ‘Is Not Happening’
Previously, Paul had been working with a lightweight called Shakur Stevenson, who is one of the most skillful fighters in the sport, when he was training for an exhibition alongside Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, who the internet sensation would have out-weighed by 60 to 70 pounds. But for Joshua, Paul brought in three heavyweights including American star Jared Anderson and AJ’s former protege Lawrence Okolie, among others.
And the impact of those sessions appears to be taking their toll.
Jake Paul’s Injuries go From Bad to Worse
It all started when Paul started sparring Okolie.
Speaking last month, Okolie told Boxing Social that he wanted to “work with Jake Paul” to get him ready for AJ. “I need to know what he sees that makes him think this is a good idea. I want him to feel what it’s like to be in there with a big, strong, world-class heavyweight before the day. I don’t want him to get hit with a jab, and it’s this whole, new sensation.”
More recent reports suggest Okolie did just that, and made Paul feel what it’s really like to share the ring with a big and strong heavyweight as the Brit apparently gave the American a black eye in training.
“I think Lawrence Okolie did that to me,” Paul said to the streamer Adin Ross, during a video in which bruising around his eye is clearly visible.
A Black Eye, Though, Isn’t Paul’s Only Injury
Paul joined The Pat McAfee Show this week and host McAfee asked Paul about the state of his nose. Considering Paul’s response, it shows the black eye Okolie gave him wasn’t the only injury he’s suffered in this camp.
“Did you break your nose? Is this new? I’m seeing your nose,” McAfee said during the show.
“It’s getting more crooked, brother,” Paul said.
“Sparring the heavyweights, my nose has moved a couple millimeters in this camp. A guy by the name of Frank Sanchez definitely cracked it a little bit so it definitely has something in it. It’s bad. Look at that. I’m like Squidward, dog.”
It’s not all been bad news in camp, though. In an Instagram post in which he showcased his skills punching the heavy bag, Paul said: “Upset coming.” And the video shows noticeable improvements in his footwork, fluidity, and power, from when he first picked up the gloves five years ago.