Jake Paul has once again set the boxing world alight with a new list of athletes who he believes are more praised than they really deserve. The controversy was sparked when the YouTuber-turned-boxer stood in front of Anthony Joshua, his next opponent, forcing himself to look up at the Briton’s imposing 1.98-metre frame. Far from being intimidated, Paul insisted that the former unified champion is an “overrated” challenge.
But Joshua is not the only target of his criticism. Paul included in his list figures such as Canelo Alvarez and Ryan Garcia, two names that at some point sounded like possible opponents of his and are now mentioned again, this time with a tone of provocation.
Canelo, Garcia and Joshua: the ‘big three’ that Jake Paul points to
When asked to name overrated athletes, Paul surprised with a diverse list: Babe Ruth, Trevor Lawrence, Cristiano Ronaldo, Conor McGregor and Dak Prescott were some of the first names. But the controversy grew when he added Ryan Garcia, followed by basketball player Anthony Edwards and finally Canelo Alvarez, with whom he had recent exchanges after the failure of a tentative fight.
Anthony Joshua is overrated
According to Paul, the Mexican never responded to his public comments, something the influencer still does not forgive. The list culminated with Tua Tagovailoa and, as a final blow, Anthony Joshua: “Finally, Anthony Joshua, overrated,” he said in a clip that surpassed one million views.
Why criticize those you want to face?
The question arises immediately: why call potential rivals “overrated”? In Canelo’s case, their paths diverged when the Mexican signed to face Terence Crawford after fighting William Scull. The idea of a media showdown with Paul was shelved.
With Ryan Garcia, the tension goes back a long way. Paul and his brother Logan have exchanged constant taunts with the Californian. Garcia was even close to replacing Gervonta Davis for a fight with Paul, but his promoter Oscar De La Hoya ruled it out due to transmission problems.
Paul’s team’s view on Anthony Joshua
As for the fight with Joshua, Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), explained why they consider the Briton “easier, yet more dangerous” than a boxer like Gervonta Davis. In his analysis, Joshua is strong and big, but less active, fast and mobile than other opponents.
According to Bidarian, this gives Paul the opportunity to shine by avoiding clean punches, although he acknowledges the inherent risk of any heavyweight fight.
Joshua, under pressure to prove his power
Now the pressure is on Joshua. The Briton has the opportunity to prove that he still retains the power that once made him a threat in the heavyweight division.
If he doesn’t, Jake Paul’s words could gain strength and resonate beyond media provocation.
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