The arrival was grand – until it wasn’t. A blue Bugatti first rolled onto the lot, followed by another in black. A third – painted in technicolor purple – slowly trailed behind … while pushing an ancient and bombed-out VW bug. It was the final vehicle from which Jake Paul emerged, stonefaced but with tongue clearly planted in cheek.
Whether intended as a metaphor or just an average troll job from perhaps the world’s most famous YouTuber, the moment provided the perfect imagery for what was to come. Larry Merchant loved to describe it as “the theater of the unexpected.” But this, and whatever pieces of boxing that we have been left with, was the theater of the absurd.
It was the opening act of Thursday’s press tour kickoff for Paul’s prizefight against former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua on December 19 in Miami. By the way, you read that right: It’s being billed as the real deal. No exhibition.
Yup, patently absurd.
But boxing is gonna boxing, and this is the place at which the sport has arrived. Thursday’s presser had the desired effect: It drew media (including BoxingScene), fans and plenty of bro-tastic ridiculousness. These things have always been a little foolish and self-indulgent, but blockbuster boxing pressers have lately mutated into something altogether unrecognizable. Think Rick and Morty performing Kabuki, doused in gallons of Drakkar Noir.
“We’re not sure if this is a real thing,” emcee Ariel Helwani spouted to start the proceedings, and, oddly, truer words have never been spoken.
Joshua took the stage first, seemingly bemused but prepared to play his part. He was soon followed there by Paul – a dirty-blonde Clevelander and former Disney child actor – who was, of course, introduced by Helwani as “the Pride of Puerto Rico.”
Sure, why not?
Paul went on to explain how Gervonta Davis fell through as his first opponent, that Tommy Fury said no to replacing him and that Terence Crawford agreed to a fight – but at a later date. Hell, we’d believe anything at this point. Can we bring ourselves to swallow the notion that Paul has a snowball’s chance in the Miami tropics of besting – or even surviving – a real fight with AJ?
“I have gotten to where I am today because of delusional optimism,” Paul said. “It’s got me to where I am today. Nobody thinks I will win, but join the list and get ready to be shocked.”
Right on cue, Joshua hit his mark like a pro.
“He’s not crazy, he’s logical,” Joshua said of Paul. “All he needs is to believe in himself, and all I need is to believe in myself. Good luck to him.”
Lines were delivered, flourishes were made, and a Paul chain was even wagered as part of the theatrics, such as they were. The event went full crackpot, though, when the two men stood in front of one another at the face-off. Whereas Paul towered over Davis, a lightweight, and even matched the height and bulk of a grizzled Mike Tyson, he was dwarfed by Joshua – 6ft 6ins and 250lbs of marbled muscle.
Are you not entertained?
Joshua, who hasn’t fought since being stopped by Daniel Dubois last September – it will be almost 15 months off by the time he fights Paul – swears this fight is just a brief diversion before he throws his lot back in with the heavyweight contenders. But at 36, does he have yet another reinvention in him?
“I’m hungry and devoted and I want to keep chasing,” he said. “Ben Davison was a great coach, but I wanted to change it and link up with Team Usyk. That’s how serious I’m taking this.”
Look around, AJ. Drink it all in. All that‘s missing is the big top.
Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends. We’re so glad you could attend. Come inside, come inside.
There’s nothing serious about any of this.
Jason Langendorf is the former Boxing Editor of ESPN.com, was a contributor to Ringside Seat and the Queensberry Rules, and has written about boxing for Vice, The Guardian, Chicago Sun-Times and other publications. A member of the Boxing Writers Association of America, he can be found at LinkedIn and followed on X and Bluesky.
