According to a former heavyweight champion, Jake Paul may have managed to get under Anthony Joshua’s skin just ahead of their fight.
David Haye knows what it takes to move up from cruiserweight and make an impact at heavyweight. He had a long amateur background and stood out as an elite talent. While Paul does not have that pedigree, he faces the same size challenges Haye once did.
The Briton now suggests that the YouTuber has finally managed to rattle his rival, noting that Friday night’s final face-off – where AJ got physical with ‘The Problem Child’ and said he would ‘f— him up’ – was out of character for the two-time champion.
Jake Paul appears to have got under Anthony Joshua’s skin ahead of fight night
Haye has known Joshua a long time and is well aware of the former champion’s usual demeanour. Speaking after Friday’s weigh-in, he pointed out that Paul seems to have managed something few others have – getting under Joshua’s skin.
“No more ‘Mister Nice Guy’. Having seen AJ that aggressive, he did a throat-slashing gesture right at the end, that’s the opposite of the energy Anthony Joshua brings to the table – he’s a very sort of corporate guy.
“He won an Olympic gold medal, he’s very squeaky clean. So this type of energy? He means business, he’s coming to bring the ruckus, he is not playing around,” Haye stated.
The effectiveness of Paul’s approach remains to be seen and fans will find out soon enough when they square off live on Netflix. In his final remarks before fight night, promoter Eddie Hearn had a simple message for Paul: ‘stay safe’.
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