Tomorrow night, Jake Paul attempts to shock the world as he faces two-time heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua. Now, eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao has made his prediction for the controversial contest.
Paul has fought as a professional boxer on 13 occasions, winning all but one of those outings, with a split-decision defeat to Tommy Fury back in 2023 representing the sole blemish on his record.
However, as a heavyweight, ‘The Problem Child’ has appeared only once, when he was tasked with a 58-year-old Mike Tyson last year, in a bout that was fought over eight two-minute rounds and 14oz gloves, against a fighter who had undergone almost two decades of inactivity prior.
In Joshua, Paul faces a genuine heavyweight that challenged for the coveted heavyweight world title only last year and has twice ruled supreme in the division. Understandably, he does so as an almighty underdog.
In an interview with Seconds Out, the legendary Pacquiao agreed with the assessment of the masses and predicted a victory for Joshua.
“Joshua [will win]. He [Jake Paul] needs to train hard.”
With an expected victory over Paul, Joshua looks set to shift his focus to a 2026 showdown with long-term rival Tyson Fury, with the pair expected to have interim bouts at the start of the year before then facing each other in September.
As for Pacquiao, the Filipino icon appears poised to challenge WBA welterweight champion Rolly Romero, following on from his sensational return to the sport earlier this year when he drew with WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios.