The upcoming boxing match between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul has become a hot topic, and frankly, it’s hard to imagine a more controversial comparison than this: it makes Joe Louis’ infamous ‘Bum of the Month’ series seem like a legendary showdown. Let’s take a trip back in time to December 16, 1940, precisely 85 years ago, when Joe Louis faced Al McCoy in Boston. At the time, Louis was riding high, having defended his heavyweight title an astonishing 13 times in just 29 months against a lineup of less-than-formidable challengers. Many predicted that McCoy would fall easily to Louis' powerful punches. However, the fight surprised everyone.
According to a reporter from the New York Times, "McCoy was expected to crumple under the first punch Louis tossed in his direction. Instead, the wily New England veteran made Louis appear ludicrous at times. Adopting a crouching, bobbing, weaving style, McCoy was an elusive target for the paralyzing fists of the titleholder." The bout ended in the fifth round, but instead of cheers, the arena erupted with boos. Louis had won, but it was clear that he had not earned any respect that night.
Fast forward to this Friday, and we find ourselves gearing up for another spectacle along the eastern coast: the clash between former heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist Anthony Joshua and social media influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami. Let’s be straightforward: this matchup makes Louis vs. McCoy look like the Rumble in the Jungle. Regardless of the outcome, it’s bound to tarnish Joshua’s reputation and potentially harm the integrity of boxing as a sport.
How could it not? Paul is still relatively new to boxing, with only 13 fights under his belt, and he has only boxed above the cruiserweight limit once. His last performance against a 58-year-old Mike Tyson showcased his clumsy style and lack of finesse. In contrast, Joshua, despite experiencing a decline in form, possesses a crushing right hand and an impressive track record from 13 world title bouts.
Adding to the absurdity is the likely weight difference, as Joshua is expected to enter the ring approximately three stone heavier. It raises serious questions about how any regulatory body could approve such a mismatch.
If we choose to believe Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn, who claim that the fight will be fair and not rigged in favor of Joshua, our hope will have to be that Paul avoids serious injury. But honestly, both Joshua and Netflix should know better, just as the boxing community should.
Boxing operates on a fundamental social contract. Everyone involved understands the inherent risks, which have become even more apparent with recent findings highlighting the dangers of subconcussive impacts on the brain. Yet, these risks are often balanced by the discipline and positive influences that boxing can bring, particularly in underprivileged communities.
This upcoming fight essentially shatters that social contract into countless pieces and then disrespects it. Some might argue that Paul deserves credit for attracting a new audience to boxing, thanks to his brash personality and unconventional approach. Perhaps there’s some merit to that view. However, history reminds us that gimmicks in boxing are not a novel concept.
Take, for instance, Joe Louis’ opponent, "Two Ton" Tony Galento, who stood just 5 feet 8 inches tall but weighed over 16 stones. He famously fought a bear and a kangaroo to promote his matches and declared his intent to "moider the bum" before facing Louis. Compared to Galento's antics, Paul’s behavior seems rather tame.
Louis himself noted, "He was a saloon keeper, and from the looks of him, he must have had a drink with every customer,” after enduring a tough fight against Galento where he was hurt early on but ultimately prevailed. During this era, Louis also had personal distractions; he candidly admitted that he was struggling with temptations outside the ring, describing it as a period similar to an alcoholic relapsing.
Another memorable encounter for Louis was with Chilean boxer Arturo Godoy, who, after their closely contested bout, greeted Louis with an unexpected kiss on the lips in the ring. Afterward, Louis humorously remarked, "It was my worstest fight ever. I ain’t never had no grown-up man kiss me on my mouth before." There was also Lou Nova, who claimed to have a secret weapon—a so-called "cosmic punch" learned from his yoga instructor—before squaring off with Louis. Louis responded to the hype by saying, "What the hell is a cosmic punch and what the hell is yoga?" He simply planned to use his usual technique to secure victory.
In stark contrast, there is nothing ambiguous about the motivations behind Friday’s fight. Both Joshua and Paul stand to gain around £70 million each, while Netflix aims to surpass the 65 million concurrent streams they achieved for the Paul-Tyson event—a record-breaking number—hoping to further enhance their subscriber base.
However, as spectators, we are not obligated to support this farce. The reality is that Jake Paul wouldn’t hold a candle to any of the fighters who were part of Louis’ ‘Bum of the Month Club.’ Moreover, he should not be stepping into the ring with someone of Joshua’s caliber.
Interestingly, Louis himself maintained that he wasn't bothered by the derogatory label assigned to his opponents or the criticism thrown his way. He reflected, "A friend of mine told me that Alexander the Great started crying when he had no more worlds to conquer. I wasn’t gonna cry. I had to make some money ... but those guys I fought were not bums.” This statement is hard to contest, especially considering that Louis faced financial pressures, including tax issues. What then is Joshua’s justification for participating in such a spectacle?
