Former world champion believes the outcome of the boxing match between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua is decided before they meet in the ring.
- Deontay Wilder claims the boxing match between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua is rigged.
- Paul reacts strongly and threatens to sue Wilder for lying.
- Anthony Joshua denies the claims and says the contract only focuses on money.
- Wilder points to the weight difference and safety risks between the two boxers.
Last year Jake Paul met boxing legend Mike Tyson (58) in the ring. The recording was characterized by unanimous expectations: Jake Paul was going to lose.
However, he did not. The YouTuber won over Tyson.
Afterwards, however, the accusations rained down. Many believed that Tyson lost “on purpose” – that the fight was rigged.
Ahead of Friday’s meeting between Paul and Anthony Joshua, speculation is rife again.
– I think that match is rigged. I am convinced of that, says former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder in an interview with Daily Mail Boxing.
– Because he (Paul) meets someone who is active, I am even more confident before this match, continues the 40-year-old.
On the night of Thursday US time, Paul and Joshua met for the weigh-in in Miami – where they will meet in the ring on Friday night.
There, Paul was confronted with Wilder’s statements.
– I have sent them a formal notice demanding that they stop making the allegations. There will probably be a lawsuit afterwards, because these people are not going to stop lying, says Paul from the podium.
– I take it as a compliment, but people have to shut up, he continues.
Paul referred to the contract he and Joshua have signed before the battle on Friday. It should not say anything about the outcome being decided – which Joshua also confirmed.
– The only thing in the contract that caught my attention was the money. Other than that, I don’t worry about anything else, Joshua said.
Wilder is a former world heavyweight champion. A title he lost to Tyson Fury in 2021.
The 40-year-old argues for his claim by pointing to the large weight difference between the two upcoming battle roosters.
– There are few people who could do what Jake does. And I’m talking about the weight difference – it’s dangerous, he says.
The American refers to the large weight difference between Paul and Joshua. The latter boxes in the heavyweight class, unlike Paul, who fights in the weight class below.
It should also be mentioned that the active boxer at one point held four world championship titles. Joshua also has one Olympic gold medal from 2012.
The Brit, like Paul, had to respond to criticism from another world champion after statements that boxers have “permission to kill”.
– If I can kill you, I will, said the former world champion about Paul.
The statement caused Joshua’s compatriot Tyson Fury to turn on all the plugs.
– He is getting a little too old to talk such nonsense. He is at the end of his career, and is going to meet a YouTuber – a Disney Channel boy – like Tommy [Fury] hit,” says the 37-year-old in an Instagram post.
After Fury’s comment, Joshua replied that he sees boxing as a job and that he cannot take responsibility for potential incidents in the ring.
