Anthony Joshua would KO Jake Paul with ease but that doesn't make fight dangerous for YouTube star, claims David Haye
YouTube prankster-turned-prizefighter Paul and two-time heavyweight champion AJ are in talks for a controversial bout next year.
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That is despite the massive size, skill and experience disparity between the pair.
Joshua, 35, brutally knocked out ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou, 38, in two rounds of their crossover clash in Riyadh in March 2024.
A year earlier, Paul, 28, suffered his first and so far only loss in the ring against Tommy Fury, 26, via split-decision.
He has since improved to 12-1 and earned himself a 14th ranked place in the WBA's cruiserweight rankings after beating Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
But moving up to heavyweight to fight AJ - who stands 6ft 6in and 18 STONE - is seen as a dangerous suicide mission amongst almost all fans.
But, former cruiserweight and heavyweight champ Haye reckons it will be painless for Paul and over before he even knows it.
The HighBet ambassador told SunSport: "I don't think it's dangerous at all!
"You don't really get any damage when you get knocked spark out. It doesn't give you brain damage.
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"Even Ngannou, how much damage did the AJ fight do to Ngannou? And Ngannou is a lot bigger and stronger than Jake Paul.
"He just knocked him out, he just turned his lights out once, that was it. Well put him down once, put him down again.
Itauma told 'anything other than becoming world champion is a failure' with Brit 'more impressive than Joshua and Fury'
"He had maybe a headache the next day, but there was no damage done, so I think it's actually quite a safe fight because it'll be over very, very fast."
Paul did fight at heavyweight last November when Mike Tyson came out of retirement at the age of 58 - losing over eight shorter two-minute rounds.
The American bulked up to 227lb (16st 2lb) and admitted to struggling to even RUN due to the weight gain.
He moved back down to the 200lb cruiserweight limit of 14st 4lb in June when he beat ex-middleweight champ Chavez Jr, 39, over ten rounds.
That is FOUR STONE lighter than Joshua - who is yet to return since his KO loss to Daniel Dubois last September.
Talks with his promoter Eddie Hearn and Paul's promotional partner Nakisa Bidarian have continued - including a one-hour meeting in person.
Hearn has even labelled the negotiations "advanced" and believes Paul is now the frontrunner for AJ's next opponent.
The fight is likely to fall in 2026 with America, Britain and Saudi all potential hosts.
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