ANTHONY JOSHUA will knock Jake Paul out in 30 seconds or be accused of flopping in a suspicious stinker, says George Groves.
The 36-year-old Watford hero has signed to do eight rounds with the blown-up celeb slapper on December 19 in Miami.
And boxing fans are as concerned with AJ’s legacy as they are with the 28-year-old America’s safety.
Paul lost his only semi-serious fight with Tommy Fury in 2023 and has most recently stunk out punch-lite decisions over 58-year-old Mike Tyson and 39-year-old Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, bouts so bad online fans accused them of being fixed.
Joshua was obliterated by Daniel Dubois 14 months ago. But in March 2024 he looked at his ruthless and sensational best when he did a demolition job on 19st MMA knockout machine Francis Ngannou in barely five minutes.
And former super-middle world champ Groves says he needs a similarly short and savage win to avoid serious questions being asked about his career and credentials.
READ MORE ON ANTHONY JOSHUA
GLOVES ARE OFF
AJ’s career is over after agreeing to fight Jake Paul, claims Carl Froch
JAKE IT OR LEAVE IT
Joshua vs Jake Paul likely to be BANNED in UK as stance is made clear
Groves told SunSport’s Split Decision show: “Jake Paul fighting Anthony Joshua does not look too clever to me.
“It’s a big risk because if he doesn’t annihilate him in the first 30 seconds then it looks fixed. It’s hard.
“If he doesn’t knock him out in 30 seconds I would think he has just had a bit of a stinker but it doesn’t mean it’s fixed.”
Joshua’s schedule is supposedly a Christmas clash with the YouTuber, a February tune-up in Saudi and the overdue Tyson Fury showdown in September.
SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET £50 BONUS WHEN YOU JOIN
But Groves worries that the longer Joshua drags out the crescendo of his career – and Fury remains in his latest retirement – the less likely they are to finally make the fantasy fight.
Groves told us: “The longer Joshua leaves it, the more it looks like the best option is to not box again.
“If he is going to fight Paul, then have a warm-up fight in February and then Fury in September – then what is Fury going to do?
“He won’t spend two years out of the ring and then come straight back in and fight Joshua, there will be more to it.
“I wanted Fury and Joshua to happen now, I don’t want them to come back and rebuild and work toward another world title.
“I just want them to come back and fight each other to show who the best is.”
Groves was on our YouTube show alongside two-fight nemesis Carl Froch but the pair agreed that Joshua’s legacy will be hit by Paul featuring on his record and two glaring absences.
He explained: “It felt like Joshua was top of the tree for so long but he never fought Deontay Wilder and he beat Wladimir Klitschko 18 months after Fury did.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
TRACK CHAOS
Busy ScotRail line through Glasgow CLOSED for hours as several trains axed
COMEBACK
Scotland star set to join crisis-hit side after almost four months without club
“The best thing Anthony Joshua can do now is fight Tyson Fury.
“But – if he’s in the business for free money – then he should take the Jake Paul fight.”
Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul – all the info
A true Christmas miracle!
The world will stand still come December 19 as the face of British boxing Anthony Joshua is all set to go up against social media sensation Jake Paul.
AJ steps in on a month’s notice after Paul’s ‘David vs Goliath’ Gervonta Davis clash was axed due to Tank’s civil suit case.
And Joshua will be desperate not to suffer the same fate as legends Mike Tyson and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr who both lost to YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul.
Particularly as a handsome figure was negotiated to get this Judgement Day deal over the line due to AJ’s DAZN contract.
INFO
LATEST NEWS
VIDEO
*If you click on a link in this boxout, we will earn affiliate revenue.
