Roy Jones Jr says Anthony Joshua has one thing to fear against Jake Paul: ‘He has a chance’

Jake Paul may have called Anthony Joshua “slow” and claimed he struggled with smaller fighters, but ring legend Roy Jones Jr believes any danger Joshua faces could come from something much simpler.

Live on Netflix on December 19 from the Kaseya Center in Miami, the boxing world will watch with trepidation and hope that the former unified champion avoids what would be the biggest upset in the sport’s history.

Paul will concede five inches of height, six inches of reach and a significant weight disadvantage. Beyond that, he must find a way to go from beating a diminished Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in his last outing to conquering a former Olympic gold medalist who fought for the world heavyweight title just last year.

Jones Jr – who ascended his own heavyweight pinnacle, coming from a far superior pedigree, to beat John Ruiz for the WBA title after winning championships in three lower divisions – has told Boxing King Media what he sees as the one scenario that could spark the upset of all upsets.

“The only problem is if Joshua underestimates him. Jake has a chance because make no mistake, Jake can punch. [I] I know people say Jake is a fluke. Jake is this, Jake that. No, Jake studied his craft. Jake knows a little more about boxing now than people think. And Jake can punch. So if Jake hit him, that could be problematic.

Joshua has been knocked down several times during his career – by Wladimir Klitschko, Andy Ruiz Jr and, most recently, by Daniel Dubois. That night at Wembley Stadium, Joshua was knocked down four times in his unsuccessful bid to become a three-time heavyweight champion.