As Jake Paul prepares to take on former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in his next boxing challenge, analysts and fellow fighters have come out to make their feelings known regarding the uneven match-up of the two contestants. In accordance, Jermaine Franklin, who has some prior experience in facing Joshua, has become the latest boxing professional to comment on the said bout, berating Paul and his decision to battle a fighter of the former’s stature.
Anthony Joshua’s ex-opponent calls out Jake Paul
Jermaine Franklin recently rebuffed the idea of the YouTuber-turned-boxer getting into the ring with Anthony Joshua, going as far as to say that the former social media sensation is “making a mockery” of the sport.
The Michigan-born boxer noted while speaking to Sky Sports, “I think it’s rubbish. I understand it’s for money, so it is what it is. But I don’t think it’s needed. I understand Jake Paul brings money into the sport, but boxing’s got to stop letting him do all this.” He also added, “I never heard of a catchweight at heavyweight.”
Notably, Franklin has himself faced Joshua in a 2023 fight at the O2 Arena in Greenwich, London. After 12 rounds of intense duelling, the match ended in Joshua’s favor, who secured victory with a comfortable unanimous decision.
Talking about how a fight against Jake Paul would reflect on Anthony Joshua, the 29-year-old boxer stated, “It hurts him, but at this point in his career, he’s probably not going to make that money from a fight. Outside of that, though, there’s really no point.”
Franklin then aimed his gun at Paul, claiming that the former YouTuber does not fit in the world of boxing. “You’re not going to get no respect as a boxer until you start acting like a boxer. Jake’s coming into the sport and making a mockery of it. Making a complete mockery of it,” he remarked.
“Now what he does with his other fighters, like [Amanda] Serrano, I appreciate it,” Jermaine Franklin continued. “She’s a real fighter, but you’re not a real fighter. Doesn’t feel natural, doesn’t feel real.”
Despite the backlash, Jake Paul is currently scheduled to fight Olympic gold medalist Anthony Joshua on December 19, 2025, at the Kaseya Center in Miami.
Originally reported by Apoorv Rastogi on Mandatory.
