WHY PAUL? ANTHONY JOSHUA EXPLAINS LOGIC BEHIND THE SURPRISING FIGHT
Anthony Joshua reveals his strategic reason for taking the Jake Paul fight, aiming to use the YouTube star's massive audience.
Anthony Joshua, the former heavyweight champ, has been talking about why he's fighting Jake Paul.
Yes, it's really happening. Joshua is set to box Jake Paul in a Netflix superfight in just a few weeks. A lot of people are shocked, but it seems like both guys are serious about getting in the ring on December 19.
Many are wondering why Joshua chose to fight Paul. Some worry that Jake will get seriously hurt, which is possible given who he's up against.
In a recent interview, Joshua shared his reasons for taking the fight.
Joshua's Thoughts on the Paul Fight
Joshua told MMA Junkie and other reporters that it comes down to ability and marketability. He said that even the best fighters might not get attention if they can't draw a crowd. The goal is to mix marketability with skill. Joshua says he always tries to get more eyes on boxing.
He advises young boxers to build a following before they become champions. That way, people will be eager to see them fight. Joshua sees his fight with Paul as a way to show himself to the world. He hopes to win big and then use that attention to help other talented fighters who need the exposure.
Joshua isn't focused on Jake's size or anything like that. He's just confident in himself. It doesn't matter how big Jake is. Joshua has a strong team, has faced challenges, and is still hungry to fight his heart out.
DONE DEAL: GILBERTO RAMIREZ SNUBS OPETAIA, BENAVIDEZ CONFIRMED NOW
Unified cruiserweight champ Gilberto Ramirez will defend his titles against David Benavidez on May 2 in a massive Vegas showdown.
Gilberto Ramirez, current unified cruiserweight champ, confirmed that he'll fight David Benavidez in Las Vegas on May 2. It's going to be a Mexico versus Mexican-American battle.
Before that big fight, Ramirez, who has a record of 48-1 with 30 KOs, will face Robin Sirwan Safar (19-0, 13 KOs) on January 16 in Palm Desert, California. If Ramirez, known as “Zurdo,” wins that fight without any problems, he'll move on to face Benavidez. Benavidez will move up from light heavyweight to fight for Ramirez’s two 200 lb titles at T-Mobile Arena during Cinco de Mayo weekend. BoxingScene was the first to report this plan.
Ramirez said he's wanted this fight for years. He knows Benavidez and his team well, having shared the gym and ring with them before. He respects them, but he's ready to win in May.
Benavidez, with a record of 31-0 and 25 KOs, comes from Phoenix and is of Mexican descent. He's a two-division champ and previously held the super middleweight title. Recently, he defended his light heavyweight title by stopping Anthony Yarde in the seventh round in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Before that, he won the interim belt against Oleksandr Gvozdyk in June 2024 and defended it against David Morrell Jr. in February. When Dmitry Bivol left to pursue a fight with Artur Beterbiev, Benavidez, 28, became the full titleholder in April.
Ramirez, 34, from Mazatlan, Mexico, last won against Yuniel Dorticos (27-2, 25 KOs) in June. He was considering unification options after recovering from shoulder surgery in July. A fight with Australia’s Jai Opetaia (29-0, 32 KOs), the lineal cruiserweight champ, seemed appealing, but then Benavidez stepped up. Now, Opetaia is accusing Ramirez of dodging him.
Ramirez responded that he wants the biggest fights and wants to compete with the best. He didn't even know who Opetaia was until recently. After hearing some of the things Opetaia said, Ramirez thinks he might be crazy. Opetaia hasn't impressed Ramirez. He thinks Opetaia has fought easy opponents to get where he is and that his behaviour reminds him of his ex-girlfriend.
NO THREAT: DAVID BENAVIDEZ DISMISSES BENAVIDEZ'S YARDE WIN AS PREDICTABLE, EASY WORK
David Benavidez stops Anthony Yarde by 7th-round TKO in Riyadh. 'The Mexican Monster' retained his WBA Light Heavyweight title with relentless pressure, improving his record to a devastating 31-0 with 25 KOs.
David “The Mexican Monster” Benavidez (31-0, 25 KOs) kept his undefeated record intact on November 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He stopped Anthony “The Beast from the East” Yarde (27-4, 24 KOs) in the seventh round, holding onto his WBA Light Heavyweight World Championship (175 lbs). This fight, part of the Ring IV: Night of Champions, confirmed Benavidez is a top force in boxing and hinted at even bigger matches to come.
From the start, Benavidez came out strong, pressuring Yarde with a lot of punches and power. Yarde tried to answer with quick shots, especially in the second and third rounds, landing some good hits that pushed Benavidez back for a moment. Still, Benavidez took the hits and kept up the pressure.
As the fight went on, Benavidez's consistency gave him the edge. He landed combinations to Yarde's head and body, tiring him out. By the fifth round, Yarde was showing it, moving back more, keeping his distance, and looking for one big punch to turn the fight around. But Benavidez didn't give him any space to breathe.
In the seventh, Benavidez finished it. He hit Yarde with a left hook to the body, followed by a right hand that clearly hurt him. Then, Benavidez unloaded over a dozen punches, finishing with a left to the chin. Yarde couldn't defend himself, so the referee stopped the fight.
With this win, Benavidez is set for bigger fights in the light heavyweight division.
For Yarde, this loss is a tough one, marking his third failed attempt at a world title. He showed some good moments early on, but he couldn't beat Benavidez. Despite the loss, he remains a dangerous fighter in the division.
Benavidez's win makes the light heavyweight division one of the most exciting in boxing right now.
With his aggressive style, strength, and confidence, David Benavidez keeps proving why he’s called the Mexican Monster. His victory over Anthony Yarde secured his WBA title and put him among the most feared fighters in the world.