Tendai Keith Guvamombe
The boxing world was left in a state of stunned silence—followed by a roar of “I told you so”—as Anthony Joshua proved there are levels to the “Sweet Science” that influencers simply cannot reach.
Following Francis Ngannou’s surprising decision to decline a lucrative offer to face Jake Paul, citing his desire to focus on top-tier heavyweight contenders, the former two-time unified champion, Anthony Joshua, stepped into the breach.
What was marketed as a crossover spectacle quickly turned into a brutal lesson in professional boxing.
From the opening bell in Round 1, the disparity in ring generalship was glaring. Joshua established a stiff, authoritative jab that snapped Paul’s head back every time the American tried to close the distance.
Paul, known for his overhand right, looked hesitant, frozen by AJ’s superior feints and footwork. Joshua didn’t overextend, instead using a high guard to parry Paul’s lunging attempts, ending the round with a crisp one-two combination that left Paul visibly shaken.
In Round 2, AJ began to invest in the body. He slipped a lazy jab from Paul and countered with a thunderous left hook to the liver, a shot that audibly sucked the air out of the arena.
Paul’s movement slowed significantly as he fell into survival mode, clinching frequently to reset his breathing. Joshua, ever the professional, used his lead hand to push Paul off, creating the perfect pocket to land a short, chopping right hand across the temple.
Paul’s legs buckled, and though he stayed upright, the “Problem Child” was clearly in deep water.
The end arrived clinically in Round 3. Joshua began the round by doubling up on his jab, forcing Paul to shell up against the ropes.
Sensing the finish, AJ unleashed a devastating flurry of power shots. He landed a piercing straight right through the center of Paul’s guard, followed by a lead uppercut that sent Paul’s head skyward.
As Paul slumped against the turnbuckle, unable to respond to the barrage of unanswered punches, the referee stepped in to save the American from further damage.
The Technical Knockout (TKO) victory was a stark reminder of the gap between a world-class heavyweight and a YouTube personality.
Francis Ngannou’s assessment was vindicated: for a fighter of AJ’s caliber, Jake Paul was indeed an “easy fight.” Joshua’s precision, power, and textbook execution turned a hyped-up contest into a quick night’s work, reasserting his dominance on the global stage.
