BUSINESS OR SPORT: WHY DOES CONOR BENN DEFEND JAKE PAUL VS ANTHONY JOSHUA
Conor Benn labels the Joshua-Paul fight "method to the madness." Is the $184M purse enough to justify this heavyweight mismatch?
Conor Benn isn't one to sugarcoat things. He sees the possible Anthony Joshua versus Jake Paul fight for what it is: boxing in today's world—risky, commercial, and unapologetic.
Boxing is always dangerous, but you know that going in, he told Daily Mail Sport at the IBA 2025 Boxing World Championships in Dubai. If it makes money, it makes sense. That's just how it is. There's no anger or sarcasm in his voice, just a straightforward take on a sport that's changed a lot. It's crazy, really. It just shows where boxing is right now.
Benn quickly gets to a point that many fighters avoid: No matter what you think about Jake Paul, his chance to fight Joshua isn't just luck or a joke that went too far. It's because he's promoted himself really well.
"You have to give it to Jake Paul," Benn said. How did he get to the point where he could fight AJ, a former heavyweight champ who's a star in boxing? How did he do that? He went from making YouTube videos to fighting older UFC fighters, and now he's here.
Benn shook his head, part impressed, part surprised. He gets marketing. He knows fights are a business. He knows how to sell a fight and get people interested. It's all because of how well he promotes himself.
Conor Benn stated that he sees no problems with Anthony Joshua fighting Jake Paul.
If anything, Benn is in awe of Paul for landing a fight with Joshua.
He's not sympathetic toward those who are bitter about the YouTuber-turned-boxer.
"I think a lot of boxers should learn from Jake Paul," he said. Don't be jealous or angry or hate him. He just understands how the game works.
Benn believes that entertainment is still a key, and many fighters forget that. If you ask me what I'd rather watch, I'd pick Jake Paul over some of these so-called top fighters, he said. You can be a good fighter, but if you don't try to be exciting, even a little, you don't belong in the entertainment business. You'll never fill a stadium. Just look at Devin Haney.
Benn uses the same clear thinking to see what this fight means for Anthony Joshua. He doesn't think Joshua's reputation will be hurt by fighting Paul.
AJ can do whatever he wants, Benn said. He's sold out stadiums many times. He's done a lot for British boxing. If I were him, I wouldn't care. I'd be making lots of money, so my family would be set for life. That's his legacy.
He laughs at the idea that online criticism matters. Do you think the people leaving nasty comments on Twitter or Instagram will matter in 10 years? When he's on his yacht, flying his helicopter in Monaco, relaxing, and training when he wants? He's not going to care what some random person thinks.
Benn thinks it's obvious that people are being hypocritical. If you offered any of those people £50 million to fight Jake Paul, they'd take it in a second, he said. I would. I'd take it for 10; I'd take it for five. So who cares? Boxing is going in a crazy direction. If you can get £50 million for an easier fight, why not? Less damage and more money is always the goal.
Jake Paul claims he sees 'weakness' in Anthony Joshua.
Benn is equally realistic about safety concerns and calls for the commission to step in. "You know the risks," Benn said. He knows what he's getting into.
He points out that boxing has never been completely safe or fair. Some amateurs with good backgrounds turn pro and fight world champions in their third or fourth fight. Jake Paul has gotten a lot better, in my opinion.
Benn isn't saying they're on the same level, but he gets Paul's thinking. Has he fought anyone as good as AJ? No, not even close. But maybe he thinks he just needs one lucky punch. Maybe he thinks he's faster, younger, and fresher. Fighters can convince themselves of things that aren't really true, but if they believe it, that's what matters.
He also doesn't think the fight would be rigged. People saying it's fixed are wrong, Benn said firmly. AJ doesn't seem like that kind of person. It would ruin his reputation. He's not going to do that.
When asked about Joshua working with members of Oleksandr Usyk's training team, Benn isn't impressed. "I don't really get it," he said. I don't see any similarities between AJ and Usyk, so I don't know how that would work.
Benn prefers to stick with people he trusts, not constantly change things. "I'm a big believer in staying with my coach," Benn said. Tony knows me as a fighter. He's known me since I was a kid. I value relationships. A loss doesn't automatically mean it was the trainer's fault. Sometimes things just don't go your way.
NAOYA INOUE SURVIVES JUNTO NAKATANI CHALLENGE TO KEEP UNDISPUTED FEATHERWEIGHT CROWN
Naoya Inoue retained his undisputed junior featherweight title in a classic unanimous decision victory over Junto Nakatani in Tokyo.
Naoya Inoue showed up at the Ohashi Boxing Gym in Yokohama with a big smile on his face; everyone could tell he was riding high after last night’s fights.
He sat next to his brother, Takuma Inoue, the WBC bantamweight champ, and both of them had just defended their world titles at the Tokyo Dome. For Naoya, the night was all about facing his toughest opponent yet at junior featherweight. He managed to edge out Junto Nakatani in a fight that went back and forth and walked away with a unanimous decision to keep his undisputed crown.
This was a huge deal: two guys from Kanagawa squaring off in what people called the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history. Honestly, the match delivered. The momentum swung between them; both had their moments. In the end, Inoue did just enough to pull ahead on the scorecards.
After such a close fight, everyone’s talking about a rematch. Nakatani seemed to be finding his rhythm in the middle rounds, but then there was an accidental head clash in the 10th that cut him. That’s when Inoue took control and finished strong.
“I’m not sure yet. If enough people want it, a rematch could happen." Inoue said he’s now 33-0, with 27 KOs. “Like I said last night, I’ve got options, but nothing is decided. I’m thinking about a new stage, and I’ll talk with Mr Ohashi about that.”
That “new stage” probably means moving up in weight. But judging by Saturday, he might still have business to settle in his own division.
There was one moment that summed up the fight. Both guys were trading punches at a high level, slipping and countering at the same time. Nobody landed, and they stopped to share a quick smile. It was surreal, but it showed just how much respect they had for each other.
“I was fighting while really feeling Nakatani’s skill and spirit,” Inoue said. “I’m pretty sure he felt the same. We both enjoyed that little space where neither could hit the other. That smile just happened.”
Despite all the mutual respect, Inoue took over when he had to. After Nakatani got cut in the 10th, Inoue had his best round; he hurt Nakatani several times and messed up his orbital bone with a sharp left hand.
“I didn’t go in with the sole intention to knock him out,” Inoue admitted. “It was complicated, a feeling I’ve never had before.”
DAVID BENAVIDEZ KNOCKS OUT ZURDO RAMIREZ TO UNIFY WBA AND WBO BELTS
David Benavidez captured the WBA/WBO cruiserweight titles with a 6th-round TKO of Zurdo Ramirez before calling out Canelo Alvarez.
David Benavidez put on an unforgettable show Saturday night, stopping Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez in the sixth round at T-Mobile Arena to grab the WBA and WBO cruiserweight belts.
Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) jumped up to cruiserweight after winning belts at super middleweight and light heavyweight, and he didn’t just win; he dominated. Mike Tyson dubbed him the “Mexican Monster", and honestly, Benavidez lived up to that name.
"My combination, my punch selection, is unlike anything else," Benavidez said. "Whoever it is, man, I don't care who it is: nobody can f--- with me."
At 29, Benavidez came in ranked No. 5 pound-for-pound by ESPN, but for years, he’s wanted to snatch the Mexican holiday spotlight from Canelo Alvarez. He’s chased that fight for ages.
This time, he finally got to headline on Cinco de Mayo weekend, facing another Mexican star. And with the beating he laid on Ramirez, Benavidez might have just snatched the title of Mexico’s top boxer.
Afterwards, a Golden Boy Promotions spokesperson confirmed Ramirez was taken to the hospital for a head scan. "He's in good spirits and has a swollen eye," the spokesperson said. "There's no determination of a fracture at this point."
Ramirez (48-2, 30 KOs) had only lost once before against Dmitry Bivol in 2022 for the WBA light heavyweight title. He’d been rolling at cruiserweight, piecing together four straight wins and hauling in two titles. But against Benavidez, Ramirez just couldn’t keep up with the blistering hand speed.
"I knew that the combination was going to be able to land easily," Benavidez said.
The way Benavidez broke Ramirez down was something else. He kept finding openings, landing combo after combo, pounding away until the crowd couldn’t help but react.
These two actually go way back. When Benavidez was 19, he sparred with Ramirez close to 300 rounds, apparently when Ramirez was prepping for Arthur Abraham in 2016. But real fights are a different world. Ramirez learned that the hard way Saturday night, leaving the ring with his right eye nearly swollen shut.
"I love Ramirez. We came up together," Benavidez said. "I'm kind of sad it had to happen like this. I love 'Zurdo' Ramirez, but that's what it is in here. There's only one 'Monstro'."
From the opening bell, Benavidez wouldn’t give Ramirez any space, picking his shots and then letting his speed loose, which has always set him apart. By the fourth, Benavidez started landing at will. He rocked Ramirez with an uppercut that put him on his heels, then pounced, firing off a flurry that forced Ramirez to take a knee.
Ramirez pulled himself together for the fifth round, but Benavidez just waited for his next chance. In the sixth, Benavidez battered him again with uppercuts; another brutal combo had Ramirez staggering, his eye swelling as the ref waved it off with a second left in the round.
With this win, Benavidez looks ready to stay at cruiser weight. Still, he used the moment to call out Canelo Alvarez, who was watching at ringside.
"I just want to give the fans what they want to see," Benavidez said. "I see Canelo in the building. Hey, let me just ask the fans this: Do you guys want to see Canelo versus David Benavidez? Enough said. That means that we can't leave that fight on the table. And I respect Canelo. He's a good champion. But I'm a great champion too. Let's do it."
Sure, a fight with Alvarez would be huge. But honestly, after the way Benavidez dominated here, nobody knows if Canelo will actually want to risk it. Canelo fights at super middleweight, and Benavidez probably isn’t dropping back to 168 pounds after this.
Still, Benavidez took his swing, then made it clear he’s coming for Dmitry Bivol as well.
"Bivol is No. 1 on my hit list," Benavidez said. "Bivol is a great competitor, a great champion. But I'm a great champion too. I just want to test myself every single fight."
