Oliver Brown’s Commentary

Our Chief Sports Writer paused the chaos in Adelaide to reflect on an even greater farce unfolding in Miami.

When Eddie Hearn openly admits that his critics are “spot on,” you know an event should never have been conceived. This is, after all, a man who once sold double glazing in Essex for £3 an hour, hawked punnets of strawberries on the streets of Hull, and possesses a gift for salesmanship that could rival Del Boy pitching Russian camcorders or Fijian ski jackets. Yet even boxing’s most silver-tongued promoter believes that the spectacle of Anthony Joshua versus Jake Paul— a strutting YouTuber whose résumé consists of novices and a near-pensioner Mike Tyson — crosses a line.

So why promote it? Take 70 million guesses. The lure of a projected £140 million purse, split evenly, proved enough for Hearn to suspend any lingering scruples. “We just couldn’t turn it down,” he insists. “No boxer in their right mind would have said no.” A naked cash grab might be forgivable. But Friday night’s monstrosity in Miami is worse: it toys with the genuine risk of severe injury. Without his influencer fame, Paul would be an anonymous cruiserweight; Joshua, meanwhile, is a two-time heavyweight world champion. The imbalance is not entertainment — it is exploitation.

Fighters arrive in Miami (2:00 a.m.)

The fighters have arrived at the Kaseya Centre. Joshua appeared in camouflage Under Armour, while the heavily tattooed Paul wore a sleeveless vest.

Earlier on the undercard, Jahmal Harvey secured just the second win of his professional career, defeating previously unbeaten Kevin Cervantes by unanimous decision.

Gareth’s prediction: body-shot stoppage (1:53 a.m.)

Joshua does not merely need to win — he must dominate. Coming off a crushing defeat to Daniel Dubois, his standing hangs by a thread. A drawn-out exhibition would be disastrous.

Expect Joshua to establish control early with a stiff jab, forcing Paul to confront the sheer physical reality of heavyweight boxing. By the third round, the ring will feel uncomfortably small for the “Problem Child.”

An early stoppage preserves Joshua’s credibility and keeps alive hopes of a 2026 title run. He leaves Miami wealthy and respected. For Paul, defeat by a former world champion carries no shame — merely another spectacle, another payday.

But if Joshua allows this fight to drift, or worse, appear competitive, it would signal the end of his legitimacy as a serious contender. Boxing’s altar has no room for influencers.

Should Paul somehow pull off the impossible — a David-and-Goliath miracle of biblical proportions — it would rank among the greatest upsets in sporting history. More realistically, Joshua toys with him briefly before delivering a body-shot stoppage in the third round.

Another ‘freak show’ added to boxing’s history (1:47 a.m.)

The fight has already been branded a freak show — and boxing has seen plenty. Yet this one threatens to rank among the most scandalous mismatches the sport has staged. That is no small feat, given Paul’s bout with a knee-braced Mike Tyson last year barely cracks the top ten.

Scene-setter from Miami (1:43 a.m.)

In 35 years covering fights, this ranks among the strangest. An Olympic gold medallist and two-time heavyweight champion facing a YouTuber — eight rounds, 10oz gloves, no exhibition label. A legitimate bout. Writing that alone feels surreal.

Yet the crowd is coming. The Kaseya Centre is filling fast, fans spilling in from Miami’s bars. The spectacle guarantees attention, regardless of sporting merit.

Paul’s unconventional résumé (1:40 a.m.)

Joshua’s rise once seemed inevitable: victories over Dillian Whyte, Charles Martin and a prime Wladimir Klitschko. Then came Andy Ruiz, followed by two losses to Oleksandr Usyk, and finally the crushing knockout by Daniel Dubois — a harsh reminder that his demolition of Francis Ngannou was a false dawn.