Tommy Fury questions Anthony Joshua’s bout with Jake Paul
Tommy Fury has questioned the logic behind Anthony Joshua’s decision to step into the ring with Jake Paul, admitting the bout “makes no sense” even as he acknowledged the financial forces now reshaping modern boxing, reports BritPanorama.
Joshua, the former unified heavyweight champion, is set to face the YouTuber-turned-fighter in a blockbuster crossover contest at Miami’s Kaseya Center on Friday night. This matchup exemplifies boxing’s ongoing intersection with influencer culture, pairing an Olympic gold medallist and multiple-time world champion with a social media star whose professional career is just five years old.
For Paul, 28, this fight represents his most formidable challenge to date. Since turning professional in 2020, he has built a 12-1 record, with his only defeat against Fury in Riyadh in 2023, where he was outboxed over eight rounds. Paul’s most recent outing was in June against Julio César Chávez Jr, marking a continued progression towards established names in boxing.
Joshua, now 36, has not fought since a knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois last year at Wembley Stadium, which marked the end of his bid for the IBF heavyweight title. Many observers are surprised that his return is against Paul rather than a traditional contender, a sentiment shared by Fury.
“How is Joshua fighting the same guy that I beat?” Fury questioned. “It makes no sense. All you need in today’s world is a few followers. I do feel sorry for the boxers coming up, because how do you get your foot in the door?”
UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall echoed this pragmatic view, noting, “What is going on? We’d all do it for that money. It’s tough [for upcoming fighters], but I understand it. We’d all do what he’s doing if we could.”
Fury’s own recent career reflects similar crossover trends. He fought just once after his controversial victory over KSI in October 2023, returning earlier this year with a low-key outing against Kenan Hanjalic in Budapest. Speculation about a rematch with Paul continues, with Fury noting that Paul’s team had aimed to renew that rivalry after an exhibition with Gervonta Davis fell through.
Reflecting on their initial meeting, Fury added, “But for me, I’m not a world champion or an Olympian. It was a big stage for me as well. You’re walking out there with thousands of people and big high-profile stuff, so it was nerve-wracking for me. Then I boxed his head off. This is why I know for the second time round, I’ll knock him out. My hand was killing me in that fight. If I can beat him with one hand, I can definitely knock him out with two. But, time will tell. I think AJ is going to beat me to it. Mad, that.”
In a sport where spectacle often takes precedence over tradition, this fight highlights a shifting landscape, where financial incentives can outweigh conventional rivalries. The upcoming clash will surely invite closer scrutiny of the market dynamics reshaping boxing.
