A UFC veteran believes Jake Paul had a real shot at making it to the final bell in his recent fight. The controversial YouTuber turned boxer made a fierce comeback last Friday, facing off against former two-time unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. This match came about unexpectedly after Paul’s planned exhibition with Gervonta Davis was canceled. Many were surprised when the fight was announced, but as expected, Joshua proved too tough for Paul. Joshua delivered a knockout blow in the sixth round, landing a powerful right hand that fractured Paul’s jaw in two places. While many saw this result as unavoidable, the ex-MMA fighter thought Paul’s strategy during the fight showed it was possible for the 28-year-old to last the distance.
UFC veteran Matt Brown criticized Paul’s fighting style against Joshua, pointing out that Paul was accused of dodging and “running away” throughout much of the contest. Brown, speaking on the show Fighter vs. Writer, echoed the common sentiment about the December 19 bout. He went further, suggesting Paul wasn’t fully prepared for his plan that night, noting that better cardio training could have prevented his defeat. “He ran until he couldn’t run anymore,” Brown said. “And what happened was exactly what we expected.”
Brown added, “Actually, he could have gone all eight rounds…I respect fighters who put in the hard work and train for hours to perform well. What Jake did wasn’t that. I think his skills are improving, but he’s burned out from playing too many games and isn’t doing the tough work like road runs at 5 a.m. or extra reps after practice. From what I saw in the fight, Jake could have lasted eight rounds and probably survived if he had trained more. Instead, he ran so much that he gassed out.”
Despite Paul’s tough night, the fight garnered massive attention. An estimated 33 million viewers worldwide watched the Joshua-Paul bout live or within one day, according to a statement from Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions. The heavyweight showdown ranked in Netflix’s top 10 in 91 countries and was number one in 45, including major markets like the U.S., UK, Canada, Germany, Australia, Mexico, and Argentina.
Fan Take: This fight highlights the growing crossover appeal between traditional combat sports and influencer-driven boxing matches, drawing huge audiences regardless of the outcome. For fight fans, it signals a new era of exposure and opportunity but also raises questions about the preparedness and training standards for celebrity boxers entering the ring with seasoned pros.
