Tommy Fury gives scathing verdict on Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul boxing fight - 'Makes no sense'

The fight represents one of the most striking examples yet of boxing’s accelerating collision with influencer culture, pairing an Olympic gold medallist and multiple-time world champion with a social media star whose professional career began only five years ago.

For Paul, 28, the meeting with Joshua is by some distance the most formidable challenge of his career.

Since turning professional in 2020, he has built a 12-1 record, the sole blemish coming against Fury in Riyadh in 2023, when the Briton outboxed him over eight rounds.

Paul’s most recent appearance came in June, when he faced Julio César Chávez Jr, continuing his steady progression towards established names.

Joshua, now 36, has not fought since suffering a knockout defeat by Daniel Dubois last year at Wembley Stadium, a loss that ended his bid for the IBF heavyweight title.

That context has left many observers surprised by his return coming against Paul rather than a traditional contender, a sentiment Fury shares.

The younger brother of former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, Tommy Fury knows Paul better than most, having handed him his only professional defeat.

Speaking about Joshua’s decision, Fury suggested the matchup defies sporting logic, even if he understands the temptation.

“How is Joshua fighting the same guy that I beat?” Fury questioned.

“It makes no sense. All you need in today’s world is a few followers. I do feel sorry for the boxers coming up, because how do you get your foot in the door?"

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall echoed that pragmatic view, saying: “What is going on? We’d all do it for that money. It’s tough [for upcoming fighters], but I understand it. We’d all do what he’s doing if we could.”

Fury’s own recent career has reflected the same crossover currents.

He fought just once in the aftermath of his controversial decision win over KSI in October 2023, returning earlier this year with a low-key outing against Kenan Hanjalic in Budapest.

A proposed bout with former UFC star Darren Till collapsed, while speculation has persisted about a rematch with Paul.

According to Fury, Paul’s team did attempt to revive that rivalry after an exhibition with Gervonta Davis fell through.

“The thing with Jake is that he makes it look like he wants to fight,” Fury said.

“He offered me all this money to fight in a place I can’t get to. He’s what he is. I will fight him again, definitely. I’ll fight him anywhere, I’m not really bothered. This next time I don’t want it going to the scorecards. I should have knocked him out the first time.”

Reflecting on their first meeting, Fury added: “But for me, I’m not a world champion or an Olympian.

"It was a big stage for me as well. You’re walking out there with thousands of people and big high-profile stuff, so it was nerve-wracking for me. Then I boxed his head off.

“This is why I know for the second time round, I’ll knock him out. My hand was killing me in that fight. If I can beat him with one hand, I can definitely knock him out with two. But, time will tell. I think AJ is going to beat me to it. Mad, that.”