“I didn’t pay $1000 to watch this!” yells a discontent spectator from the stands. Another joins in, stating, “I didn’t pay to watch you guys hug!” Little by little, the crowd crescendos into a cacophony of boos and insults, resonating throughout the walls of the huge Miami stadium.
Jake Paul, face swollen and marred with his blood, slowly circles along the edge of the ring. From time to time, he staggers, desperately gripping onto the ropes for support. On the contrary, an enraged Anthony Joshua ferociously eyes him down, concentrating on his opponent with the animosity of a vicious predator appraising his prey. Fearing for his life, Paul tries to gain some distance, only to feel the cold, unforgiving plastic of the corner pad: he’s been cornered.
Then, in a fraction of a second, Joshua dashes forwards with incredible speed, thrusting his left arm with deadly force straight at Paul’s chin. The crowd roars in excitement. Fortunately, Paul reacts quickly enough to slip the left hook, but Joshua immediately retrieves his arm and launches another lethal left straight right into his solar plexus (stomach). Paul, having no arms to block, inadvertently makes a fatal mistake: he lowers his guard, bringing his elbows down to block the incoming body blow. Suddenly, time seems to slow down. Paul can do nothing but watch as Joshua firmly planted his left foot, pivoted his body, and launched his fist forwards, straight towards his chin. Bring my arms up. Bring my arms up. Too late. As the punch connects, an ear-shattering thud echoes through the stadium. Paul’s head snaps back, his face pale and drenched with sweat. As his body falls to the canvas, he feels a strange feeling in his mouth, almost as if his teeth had been put out of alignment. As he places his glove to his mouth, blood begins to pool out. That’s when it hits him: his jaw has been broken.
When social media influencer Jake Paul initially announced his matchup against former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, he faced major backlash. Many ridiculed his choice to fight someone that wasn’t even in his weight class, stating that it would be an easy win for Joshua and that the fight “wouldn’t even last two rounds.” Even Joshua himself stated in an interview that anything short of a first-round KO “would be a failure.”
Before the start of the match, it was clear that everything was in Joshua’s favor: he had the edge over Paul in experience, weight, and height. In fact, almost all betters betted on him, with winning bets on Paul promising a staggering 3,000 dollar prize. However, when the match began, it was clear that it wasn’t going to be as quick of a match as many had anticipated. Paul, cautious of Joshua’s signature right hook, chose to keep his distance and avoid infighting (incredibly close-quarters combat), slipping his punches and occasionally countering with light jabs and uppercuts. However, as the rounds progressed and Paul burned more of his stamina, he found it difficult to keep standing, with the accumulated damage from Joshua’s punches disorienting his balance and perception. Through the 3rd, 4th, and 5th rounds, Joshua gradually became slower and took more of Joshua’s heavy blows, with the match finally climaxing in the 6th round with Joshua’s decisive right hook, which fractured Paul’s jaw.
Following the event, Paul was hospitalized. On his social media, he posted an update, stating that he needed a few of his teeth removed and implants in his lower jaw, preventing him from eating solid foods for a week. As for Joshua, he walked away with a payday of $66 million.
When students at Cresskill were asked for their opinions on the match, most of them expressed enjoyment and respect for both fighters. Sophomore Daniel Park stated, “originally, I expected Joshua to win, knowing that he’s taller and heavier than Paul, but Paul’s holding out for 6 rounds was really impressive to me. He’s gained my respect.” Spencer Choi also noted his excitement and respect for the fighters, explaining that he “initially knew of Jake Paul as just that influencer who everyone sort-of hated. His performance during this match really proved his potential to me. I’ll definitely be following him in the future.”
Overall, the Jake vs. Joshua match was definitely a testament to the power and potential of both fighters. Paul overcoming all odds and lasting for an impressive 6 rounds against an opponent that would have normally obliterated others in his weight class stands as a reminder of his determination and resilience. Not to mention Joshua, who proved his immense power by shattering Paul’s jaw with a single right punch. Through this fight, both fighters proved their potential and ultimately garnered a wave of respect from fans and boxing enthusiasts alike.
