Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua LIVE: Boxing fight updates and results as AJ vows to ‘kill’ YouTuber on Netflix card – UK Times

Both men in the ring now and are about to be announced.

AJ strutting around and appears cool. The pressure will be immense internally though, the cost of the rumoured $50m purse.

Joshua in the ring with minimal fuss. Now Paul, initially to Rick Derringer’s Real American, Hulk Hogan’s famous walk out tune.

Paul is donning the colours of the Hulkster and rapper 6ix9ine joins the American on his way to the ring.

Two national anthems done, it’s time for the ring walks…

The Kaseya Center is ready, the main event is here, this should be fascinating.

The unknown, the mystery, the controversy, we get clarity in the next few minutes.

“Yes [his career is on the line],” Lennox Lewis says. “He’s got to get rid of Jake Paul, there’s something about Jake Paul that makes him feel positive, but when he gets in the ring and feels a heavyweight punch, he’ll be on his bike.”

While Andre Ward adds: “What’s supposed to happen is complete domination, the hand closest to Jake Paul, make him feel the power jab, then you come with the big right hand and send a message that I’m an elite fighter and you’re not.”

Fans continue to express suspicion, despite the fact that Paul’s company Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) recently threatened legal action against those who have accused him of rigging his fights.

This month, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn addressed the matter, saying: “Firstly, it’s illegal to have a script when there’s a professional, sanctioned contest; two, we would never be involved in an exhibition fight. Do you think I would sign up to something that might make AJ look bad or go [for multiple] rounds?

“No, we wanna go in there, do a job for boxing, which is what we should be doing, which is ironing this guy out ASAP.

“If [Paul] shows any signs of confidence in this fight, or any signs of aggressiveness, he’s gonna get ironed out as soon as he makes a move […] We couldn’t be taking it more seriously.”

“Joshua has to try and force the action, Jake will run around the ring and every inche of this 22-by-22-feet ring,” says David Haye.

The wait is almost over, the fighters are waiting to be called. Jake Paul looks relaxed, though his brother Logan is looking on ominously, perhaps nervous for the huge challenge ahead…

This will be a professional heavyweight fight, not an exhibition, meaning the result will go on each man’s record and a knockout is possible.

It will be scheduled for eight three-minute rounds, and each man will wear standard 10oz gloves.

Joshua was not allowed to tip the scales at more than 245lb at yesterday’s weigh-in, and he came in at 243.4lb (110.4kg). Meanwhile, Paul was 216.4lb (98.1kg).

Furthermore, the ring is 22-by-22-foot, bigger than the 20-by-20 to which AJ is most accustomed.

“I commend Jake for taking this fight, very brave,” McIlroy says. “But I can’t see past AJ, the reach advantage, the height advantage, the experience, I’m a big fight fan, but I don’t fancy any other result than an early win for Joshua.”

If you rack your brain, does a legitimate answer rattle around? Feel free to pause for thought before opening the article linked below – no one is in a rush here; Paul, like it or not, isn’t going anywhere.

And the questions above are not meant to be condescending, honestly. We’re going to try to get to the bottom of this by the time you reach the bottom of this article:

“We will make a decision this week on Anthony’s next fight,” Eddie Hearn, the Matchroom boss, began, addressing the huddle of reporters. That, of course, was not the curious part. “If he fights this year, you probably won’t even hear about it. We would literally rock up on fight week.

“The whole point is to not have to come and do [media] – just chill out, turn up on the Wednesday or Thursday, weigh in, wrap your hands, and go and fight.” That was fascinating, but still not the point in question.

The key words were these: “Unless it’s Jake Paul.”

Read our special report on how Paul vs Joshua was made, featuring interviews with Hearn and Paul’s business partner Nakisa Bidarian: