Haye fears for Paul’s safety
David Haye says he is seriously concerned for Jake Paul’s wellbeing ahead of the eight-round clash with Anthony Joshua on December 19 in Miami’s Kaseya Center. The former champion insists the bout should not take place and hopes paramedics will be positioned close to the ring.
A dangerous matchup for both fighters
Some believe the fight could unexpectedly turn against Joshua, with the younger, quicker and more active Jake Paul posing a real threat if he lands early. Haye rejects that idea completely. In his view, Paul stands no realistic chance. If Joshua corners the 28-year-old and begins unloading heavy punches, Haye predicts a grim ending. After Joshua’s shaky performance against Daniel Dubois on September 21, 2024, the worry feels justified. He was in trouble from the opening minute, and Dubois isn’t considered top tier.
Dubois is the only strong opponent Joshua has faced in the last three years. Since the consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022, Joshua’s wins have come only against clearly weaker fighters: Francis Ngannou (KO 2, March 2024), Otto Wallin (stoppage round 5, December 2023), Robert Helenius (KO 7, August 2023) and Jermaine Franklin (twelve-round decision, April 2023).
“If Jake Paul gets stuck under Joshua’s punches, it could be the end for him. It could be his last day on earth,” Haye told Sky Sports Boxing.
Joshua’s decline becomes harder to ignore
Many fans argue Joshua was never the complete fighter he was promoted to be. His win over a 40-year-old Wladimir Klitschko and a disputed 2012 Olympic gold medal helped build a reputation that may have exceeded his actual ability.
If Joshua truly is the manufactured star some critics describe, Jake Paul could expose his limits. At 36, Joshua is far removed from his prime. His punch resistance appears fragile, and his confidence inconsistent. Paul has the power to end the fight the way Dubois did last year within five rounds. It might even happen faster, since Paul is more athletic and less predictable.
“The fight shouldn’t go ahead. There’s no reason for it,” Haye said. “It will be brutal. I hope they have strong medical support standing by.”
Some observers wonder whether Haye is also frustrated that Paul, not he, is getting the Joshua fight he never secured during his own career.
Why Joshua signs anyway
With the payday Eddie Hearn is hinting at — reportedly similar to the more than 80 million dollars Joshua earned for his Ruiz rematch in 2019 — it’s clear why Joshua accepted the offer.
