Jake Paul faced a significant challenge in his latest boxing match, going up against the formidable heavyweight Anthony Joshua. On Friday in Miami, Paul (12-2) suffered a sixth-round knockout that resulted in a broken jaw, further intensifying the ongoing discussions surrounding his career and the legitimacy of his bouts.
Despite the severity of the defeat, which critics argue demonstrates Joshua’s superior boxing skill and experience, theories suggesting that the fight was staged have emerged. Many observers, including boxing promoter Lou DiBella, have voiced skepticism, with some even suggesting Joshua should have secured the victory much earlier.
Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions, defended the integrity of the match during an appearance on Uncrowned’s “The Ariel Helwani Show.” He asserted that there was no collusion and announced that legal actions are underway against individuals promoting such theories. Bidarian recounted encountering a post on social media, allegedly from a lawyer, claiming there was a prior agreement for Joshua not to knock out Paul, which he dismissed as absurd.
While Bidarian did not specify whether he would take legal action against DiBella, he highlighted DiBella’s posts that implied the fight was manipulated. DiBella openly challenged Bidarian to pursue legal recourse, stating, “This isn’t good for boxing, sports, or entertainment,” which emphasizes the polarizing sentiments surrounding the fight.
Paul’s transition from his previous matchup against Julio César Chávez Jr. to facing Joshua represents a notable increase in competition, not merely in skill but also in size and experience. Critics have speculated that Joshua intentionally delayed finishing the fight to present a more favorable narrative for Paul’s performance.
Bidarian expressed disbelief at such claims, reinforcing that the fight’s trajectory and outcome were consistent with those of genuine competitions. He highlighted Joshua’s public statements leading up to the match, which indicated his determination to finish Paul quickly, further negating theories of a planned outcome.
This bout marks ONLY the second loss in Paul’s boxing career and his first by stoppage, while Joshua, having rebounded from a prior defeat to Daniel Dubois, appears to have regained traction and recognition in the American market, particularly through visibility on Netflix.
As the boxing community continues to dissect this match, the focus remains on whether the sport can unite under the shared experience of competition, regardless of the controversies that often envelop it. The ongoing discourse may eventually contribute to a stronger, more transparent boxing landscape.