BoxRec

The fight looked legit to me, I just think AJ struggled with a moving target who was just trying to survive and get lucky with the occasional big punch. Once JP was gassed it was over. But there seems to be a lot of people also claiming it was scripted in some way, AJ was holding back or something fishy about it. What you think?

I think aj used the opportunity to shake off some rust but as soon as he put combinations together Paul had no chance. Fair play to both, JP for fighting top tier, AJ for fighting in a situation where he literally had to win.

Yeah fair play to Jake Paul, he done well to stand up after that last punch and he didn’t make any excuses afterwards. He done better than many of AJs opponents so that’s an achievement in itself.

Controversial wrote: ↑20 Dec 2025, 07:21 Yeah fair play to Jake Paul, he done well to stand up after that last punch and he didn’t make any excuses afterwards. He done better than many of AJs opponents so that’s an achievement in itself.

He did better than AJ did himself against Dubois.

JP was on his bike for the most part (don't blame him) once tired, AJ caught up and lit him up good, final shot would have stopped most HWs. Legit fight.

I definitely think Joshua went a bit easy on him, said as much on the RBR as it happened.

You only have to watch the fight from where Paul was gassed in like Round 4 with his arms by the side, , open for a hit and falling over every 30 seconds and AJ kept holding back. Any other fighter in the world, and AJ would have put them to sleep. not hold off.

He clearly had orders to drag the fight out as long as he feasibly could.

And Mike Tyson could do that?

Nightmare Roy wrote: ↑20 Dec 2025, 07:45 JP was on his bike for the most part (don't blame him) once tired, AJ caught up and lit him up good, final shot would have stopped most HWs. Legit fight.

I just rewatched it as I was half cut last night, JP ran more than I remembered, threw less punches and fell over more than I remembered. Pure survival tactics. AJ didn’t look great but it’s hard to look good if the other guy doesn’t want to fight.

The poll actually asks a completely different question to that title - I read the title and just went in and answered 'yes', only to see the poll was asking whether AJ was trying to win.

So my vote is the opposite of what I intended - of course, AJ carried him. Can't even believe it's up for debate.

Didnt stay up for this but from what i saw it looked like finish was legit with a few shenanigans along the way

Deserter wrote: ↑20 Dec 2025, 07:59 The poll actually asks a completely different question to that title - I read the title and just went in and answered 'yes', only to see the poll was asking whether AJ was trying to win.

So my vote is the opposite of what I intended - of course, AJ carried him. Can't even believe it's up for debate.

Fair point, I’ve edited it and allowed votes to be changed

tigermoth87 wrote: ↑20 Dec 2025, 07:47 You only have to watch the fight from where Paul was gassed in like Round 4 with his arms by the side, , open for a hit and falling over every 30 seconds and AJ kept holding back. Any other fighter in the world, and AJ would have put them to sleep. not hold off.

He clearly had orders to drag the fight out as long as he feasibly could.

Yep there were a few examples of that, plus the tactics were a bit suspect, only throwing jabs and telegraphed big rights rather than bodyshots / hooks which would have undoubtedly been better choices. I def wouldn’t say it was ‘fixed’ but enough evidence to show Joshua wasn’t giving 100%, similar to how Floyd took it easy on McGregor in the first half of their fight.

Controversial wrote: ↑20 Dec 2025, 08:05

Deserter wrote: ↑20 Dec 2025, 07:59 The poll actually asks a completely different question to that title - I read the title and just went in and answered 'yes', only to see the poll was asking whether AJ was trying to win.

So my vote is the opposite of what I intended - of course, AJ carried him. Can't even believe it's up for debate.

Fair point, I’ve edited it and allowed votes to be changed

Thanks mate.

Joshua fought his fight. Paul ran away and shot for takedowns. Joshua did not change his approach to what he would've done any other opponent who was taking any other approach. He respected Paul like he was a legitimate heavyweight, he wasn't reckless and he just did what he does against others. It was Paul that made it look a farce. Joshua looked like he was treating it was a warm up or practice.

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑20 Dec 2025, 08:15

tigermoth87 wrote: ↑20 Dec 2025, 07:47 You only have to watch the fight from where Paul was gassed in like Round 4 with his arms by the side, , open for a hit and falling over every 30 seconds and AJ kept holding back. Any other fighter in the world, and AJ would have put them to sleep. not hold off.

He clearly had orders to drag the fight out as long as he feasibly could.

Yep there were a few examples of that, plus the tactics were a bit suspect, only throwing jabs and telegraphed big rights rather than bodyshots / hooks which would have undoubtedly been better choices. I def wouldn’t say it was ‘fixed’ but enough evidence to show Joshua wasn’t giving 100%, similar to how Floyd took it easy on McGregor in the first half of their fight.

I don’t see this argument at all. JP was a good few feet away for most of the fight as he was keeping his distance, when they got close he grabbed AJ or fell over. AJ has never been a masterful boxer, he’s pretty limited technically. I think JP was banking on not having to trade and just get as many rounds under his belt as possible and hope AJ got frustrated and reckless so he could try and catch him with haymaker. If JP stood and traded from the first bell it would’ve been over pretty quick.

Dave Allen believes Joshua went easy too:

Joshua didn’t go chasing JP with urgency, but that’s how he is. It was hardly an odd looking performance given what we’ve seen before. AJ doesn’t have the sort of gas tank that allows for missing lots of punches early in a fight.

He wanted to win comfortably, and that’s exactly what he did. No conspiracy here.

Kilburn wrote: ↑20 Dec 2025, 09:02 Joshua didn’t go chasing JP with urgency, but that’s how he is. It was hardly an odd looking performance given what we’ve seen before. AJ doesn’t have the sort of gas tank that allows for missing lots of punches early in a fight.

He wanted to win comfortably, and that’s exactly what he did. No conspiracy here.

Agreed. He took it easy in the sense he wasn't really forcefully looking to do damage. Just follow, close down, let some shots go and gradually just weaken this clown (albeit it, a very, very rich one).

Not great for us purists but the masses probably lapped it all up.

PS I did not stay up to watch this circus. Back in the day, as someone else mentioned, had it been Tyson - Spinks, Holyfield - Bowe or Lewis, then yeah.

He didn’t need to carry him.

JP looked after himself

No other sport would allow this shit, if some youtube prick turned up to MotoGP, they'd be told piss off you're a retard and you'll die.

banjo wrote: ↑20 Dec 2025, 09:31 No other sport would allow this shit, if some youtube prick turned up to MotoGP, they'd be told piss off you're a retard and you'll die.

Indeed, total farce.

I think it was a legit fight, but Joshua played with his a food a bit. His timing was off and he was hesitant to pull the trigger at times.

Took his time, took the opportunity to shake of some ring rust, got the job done.

What I will say, despite how much I dislike him, is that Paul is a game bastard.

Seems to be some kind of adrenaline junkie who enjoyed feeling the full force of a legit heavyweight.

Frostieballs wrote: ↑20 Dec 2025, 09:53 I think it was a legit fight, but Joshua played with his a food a bit and a bit hesitant to pull the trigger.

Took his time, took the opportunity to shake of some ring rust, got the job done.

What I will say, despite how much I dislike him, is that Paul is a game bastard.

Seems to be some kind of adrenaline junkie who enjoyed feeling the full force of a legit heavyweight.

Pretty much agree with everything you just said Mr Frostieballs.