Former world champion David Haye has delivered a stark warning to YouTube sensation turned boxer Jake Paul, insisting no special rules will protect him from a brutal knockout if he steps into the ring with British heavyweight Anthony Joshua.
A Mismatch in the Making
According to reports, Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul are in advanced talks for a blockbuster heavyweight showdown scheduled for December in Miami. The fight is expected to be broadcast live on Netflix, with sources indicating a deal was being 'finalised' on Wednesday, November 13, 2025.
While Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, has cautioned that work remains to complete the agreement, the potential clash promises to be one of the year's most significant sporting events. Paul, known as 'The Problem Child', has built a formidable reputation in boxing circles, boasting a record of 12 wins from 13 professional bouts. However, his victories have predominantly come against retired MMA fighters, with his most notable win being a controversial bout against a 59-year-old Mike Tyson in 2024. His sole defeat was handed to him by Tommy Fury, a fighter whose fame stems more from reality TV than ring prowess.
Haye's Brutal Assessment
Speaking to Metro as a brand ambassador for HighBet, Haye left no room for doubt about the expected outcome. He described Joshua as a 'completely different proposition' to anyone Paul has previously faced.
'AJ is an amateur champion, an Olympic gold medallist, a two-time heavyweight champion of the world,' Haye stated. 'This is a very easy fight for AJ in regards to the other options on the table. This isn't Tyson Fury, this isn't even Francis Ngannou, this is a cruiserweight who has had 13 fights.'
Haye dismissed the idea that any potential rule modifications, such as shorter rounds, could swing the fight in Paul's favour. 'Even if the rounds are two minutes long, whatever the rules are, if 'AJ' is allowed to punch him in the head, the fight goes as long as AJ wants it to,' he warned.
A Mercy Knockout?
In a surprising twist, Haye suggested that the best-case scenario for Paul's long-term health would be a swift and devastating knockout from Joshua. He pointed to Joshua's concussive power, which was brutally displayed in his March 2024 knockout of former UFC champion Francis Ngannou.
'Paul's best bet is Joshua punches him so hard and ends it early,' Haye claimed. 'I think the chances of Jake Paul getting badly injured are slim because injuries tend to happen when you are taking a consistent and continued beating... That is when the damage usually happens.'
Haye predicts a 'Ngannou-type of finish', where Joshua 'lights him up quickly'. He chillingly concluded that for Paul, 'a sore head and a ruptured eye socket is the best he can hope for.'
This potential fight comes after Joshua's own setback, a devastating defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024, which scuppered his hopes of a third world title. While some critics argue that facing Paul could damage Joshua's legacy, Haye disagrees, comparing it to other crossover spectacles like Muhammad Ali fighting wrestlers or Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor.
'If anything, it will raise his stock if he goes out there and knocks him out in one round,' Haye asserted. 'No one is going to look down on his previous achievements, he just also becomes the guy who knocked out Jake Paul.'
