Boxing
Will Jake Paul’s fight damage Anthony Joshua’s legacy? It won’t even be remembered
Published
4 months agoon
Do you remember the night you fell in love with boxing?
OK, maybe you didn’t fall head over heels in love with it, but you remember the first time you watched it. You close your eyes and you can see it; it smells, almost. You remember how it shaped you.
For many, Anthony Joshua provided those moments. You knew nothing about this sport, but you had a feeling who was winning. In the end, it was just a fight. You couldn’t look away, jealousy rattling in your bones as, despite your best efforts, you couldn’t get a ticket to Wembley Stadium that evening.
You didn’t know anything about boxing, but you knew it was a massive deal because Joshua was fighting.
“AJ.”
He won. He knocked out the other guy and held all those belts. There was that massive cut that sent a shiver of excitement down your spine as well.
You never forget your first.
Even people who are indifferent to boxing, those who are blessed that the sport has not dominated their lives, remember April 29, 2017: When Anthony Joshua defeated Wladimir Klitschko.
If that night was the only “legacy”, Joshua leaves British boxing having defeated Klitschko in what many people have described as the greatest sporting event they have ever watched. That would be special enough.
But that’s not the case. He gave so much more.
Therefore, those who believe that his fight with Jake Paul will “ruin” or “destroy” his legacy should remember what else he has done for the sport.
Let’s first deal with the word itself, which has been on everyone’s lips since the fight was announced.
Heritage (adj):
Events (plural). Actions (plural).
In Joshua’s case: Olympic gold medal, two-time unified heavyweight champion of the world, 28 wins, 24 by knockout, only four defeats.
Thousands of people packed into mega stadiums just to catch a glimpse of him, something that wasn’t the norm before he appeared on the scene.
But Joshua’s true legacy? Think where British boxing would be without him.
The millions he has made from a sport that many dream of will simply be lost. Joshua took boxing from arenas to stadiums. From bangs to the red carpet.
What about the things you can’t see?
Kids who put trembling hands into gloves for the first time, and many of them probably avoided a life of crime – or worse – thanks to Joshua. The fighters that are going through now started taking the fight seriously because they wanted what AJ had.
They wanted to
The money he raised for charities and the gyms he helped save. Run down, rickety and musty aged buildings that are the beating hearts of the communities they serve. Buildings you didn’t even know existed. We will never know how many lives Joshua changed by going to the gym and spending time with juvenile players.
The things he does away from the cameras.
Daily interactions on the street, people who will forever torment their jealous friends with the “when I met AJ” story. Will the Jake Paul fight destroy that legacy? Is it really that bad?
This is. If it makes money, then it makes sense. And this is not up-to-date. Anyone who says otherwise is lying.
An attention-seeking, in-your-face, absurd and divisive sport. By the way, that’s why we love it. Do you remember when Muhammad Ali had a mixed-rules exhibition fight with professional wrestler Antonio Inoki in 1976? Probably not.
It was a stunt, a laugh, a plan to make money and attract attention. Does anyone care now? Not really.
Joshua’s fight with Paul, whatever you think of it, will simply be a footnote to his brilliant career when all is said and done. Something you discuss in passing over a beer.
So, before you reach for your keyboard and berate Joshua or Paul for taking on the fight you’re watching and reading about, think about those fateful nights.
Think about why you’re watching.
Because this is for crying out clamorous.
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Boxing
Lennox Lewis gives an truthful assessment of the Vitali Klitschko fight and the reasons he retired
Published
1 hour agoon
April 26, 2026
Lennox Lewis surrendered on his own terms shortly after defeating Vitali Klitschko, but he still found it extremely arduous to hang up his gloves.
Before retiring, Lewis had firmly established himself as the all-time heavyweight champion, especially after he overtook Evander Holyfield for the undisputed crown in 1999.
Then “The Lion” would do it lost to Hasim Rahman in a shocker in 2001, then took revenge for the defeat by reaching the fourth round in the same year.
At this point he had beaten every fighter in the opposite corner, and he only continued this pattern after securing an eighth-round berth over Mike Tyson in 2002.
But instead of sailing off into the sunset, Lewis was convinced by his legendary trainer Emanuel Steward to fight Klitschko in 2003.
I’m talking to Heavenly sportsLewis said it was simply an opportunity to further cement his legacy by fighting the previous and potentially future heavyweight champion. He admitted that the performance was not pretty, but assured that he did his job.
“My coach Emanuel said, ‘Listen, you can beat the present and the future in this fight,’ and I said, ‘Well, I’ll take it.’ It wasn’t a pretty fight, but I still won.”
Indeed, it was a close fight between Lewis and Klitschko, who was ultimately stopped in the sixth round after suffering significant facial injuries.
However, Klitschko won the vacant WBC belt shortly thereafter and remained undefeated (defending the title 11 times) before retiring in 2012.
Meanwhile, Lewis was tempted to return several times, but was keenly aware of the focus and discipline he needed to compete at the highest level.
“There were many times I felt like jumping back into the ring, but stay focused [and] discipline kept me at bay.
“Let me tell you, it was difficult. I wanted to retire and say I wasn’t coming back and it was difficult to stay out of the ring. HBO gave me a job as a commentator and I was back there in front of boxing and trying to get away from boxing.
“I said I’ve done everything, I don’t have to prove anything anymore. So I stayed away from boxing.”
After retiring, Lewis became a widely respected pundit, analyst and commentator, largely due to his deep understanding of the sport.
“He’s a great fighter. He has everything,” Sulaiman told Ring Champs. “He has all-time potential. He’s a great fighter.”
Sulaiman said Stevenson’s skills have already been proven in multiple leagues, adding that the latest move has only strengthened his standing in the sport.
The comments came when Sulaiman was asked whether Stevenson could finally become boxing’s top pound-for-pound fighter. His answer was direct.
“I think so,” Sulaiman said. “He looks very good and sturdy in this weight class.”
Stevenson’s rise also became a major topic of conversation after the Teofimo fight. Sulaiman said the up-to-date division seemed to suit him physically.
At 28 years elderly, Stevenson is currently at the point in his career where accolades become expectations. Talent alone no longer divides him. The question is whether his upcoming fights match the level people currently see in him.
All the while, Sugar Ray Robinson was moving up from welterweight to middleweight and fighting the toughest monsters of his era without asking them to suck him parched. When you request a hydration clause, as Shakur did with Conor Benn at welterweight, you are essentially saying that you want your opponent to be at his weakest while you are at his best.
Sugar Ray Robinson didn’t ask for a “rehydration clause” during his fight with Jake LaMotta. He just went out and fought a much bigger, stronger man. If Shakur wants to be mentioned in the same breath, he must finally fight a fight in which he will not be the one dictated by physical disabilities.
Robinson didn’t ask for a “rehydration clause” in his fight with Jake LaMotta. He just went out and fought a much bigger, stronger man. If Shakur wants to be mentioned in the same breath, he must finally fight a fight in which he will not be the one dictated by physical disabilities.
Boxing
Gervonta Davis called out by world champion for mega fight: “I need it”
Published
5 hours agoon
April 26, 2026
Gervonta Davis’ future is currently in doubt, but that’s not stopping one of the reigning world champions from calling out ‘Tank’ for a showdown.
It was over a year since Davis last saw action in March 2025 against Lamont Roach Jr. This fight ended in a controversial majority draw, but “Tank” still defended his WBA lightweight title.
Since then, however, the Baltimore man’s life has been extremely hard. A first-time exhibition with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, scheduled for November, was canceled after Davis found himself at the center of domestic violence allegations.
Further allegations led to “Tank” losing his WBA belt and being declared champion during his hiatus, but earlier this year reports surfaced that he could return against former foe and current WBC interim super lightweight champion Isaac Cruz.
After Ryan Garcia posted, it’s yet another former foe of Davis who is now calling for a rematch social media his intention to secure a second fight.
“I pray I get a tank rematch one day. I need it back on equal footing. I need it!!!”
Garcia suffered a seventh-round loss to Davis when they met in April 2023, but “King Ry” has repeatedly said since the fight that he was far from his best as it was a 136-pound catchweight fight with a 10-pound rehydration clause.
in February Garcia defeated Mario Barrios to win the WBC welterweight titleand if Davis decides to campaign at 147 pounds, the prospect of winning world titles in another weight class could tempt him into a rematch with “King Ry.”
Lennox Lewis gives an truthful assessment of the Vitali Klitschko fight and the reasons he retired
Sulaiman says Shakur has huge all-time potential
‘ANTHONY JOSHUA BEATS TYSON FURY’ – Teofimo Lopez REACTS to Conor Benn NOT STOPPING PROGRAIS
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