David Haye offered a knowing smile when questioned about Jake Paul's prospects against Anthony Joshua. For the former world champion, the query missed the fundamental point of this weekend's spectacle in Miami. The fight, he insists, is not about the YouTube star at all.
The Brutal Imbalance of Expectations
Haye explained to Daily Mail Sport via HighBet that the entire dynamic of the bout rests on a severe imbalance. Paul's role is straightforward: show up, demonstrate courage, and attract a global audience. Joshua's task, however, is unforgiving. "Everyone thinks this fight is about Jake Paul. It isn't. This is about Anthony Joshua," Haye stated. "Jake can get in the ring, slip over, bang his head and knock himself out and that's the end of it. But if AJ gives Jake Paul even 30 seconds of success, he'll be crucified."
In Haye's view, a standard victory is insufficient. "Doing enough isn't enough," he asserted. "AJ can't win in round three. He has to win in round one, and it has to be clean, destructive, clinical. He can't get clipped. He can't be pushed back. This has to be his sharpest performance." Anything less than a devastating first-round demolition will be framed as a failure for the two-time heavyweight titleholder.
Respect for Paul, But Questions Over Confidence
Haye expressed a degree of admiration for Paul's audacity in accepting the fight, acknowledging the vast gulf in size, experience, and professional record. "I respect the platform Jake's built, and I respect the bravery," he said. "The whole world is going to watch this. But the microscope is firmly on AJ."
Yet that admiration has clear limits. Haye confessed he struggles to understand the source of Paul's confidence, particularly after images surfaced of the American with a black eye following a sparring session with British cruiserweight Lawrence Okolie. "If you're getting bashed up every day in sparring, why would anyone believe you can suddenly do something on fight night, under the lights?" Haye questioned. "It doesn't make sense... I find it hard to believe, having seen Okolie give him a black eye and he wouldn't have been going at Jake any more than 50 per cent."
Joshua's Camp: A Pivotal Shift in Approach
For Joshua, Haye believes the real narrative lies in his preparation. The boxer's decision to work closely with members of Oleksandr Usyk's team could be critical, not just for this fight, but for the next phase of his career. "I think working with Usyk will get AJ battle-hardened, not just physically fit," Haye said. He suggested Joshua's previous camps may have been too comfortable, where he held excessive control.
"He could kind of pick and choose who he sparred in previous camps," Haye explained. "With Usyk's team, it's just, no you're sparring him, him and him. That's the difference. They are pushing him to the limits and training him like he's never trained before." This shift, where Usyk becomes the reference point, is seen as a major positive. "AJ can't be calling the shots," Haye emphasised, highlighting the need for uncompromising sparring. "You need live rounds. Pay the sparring partners a bonus to knock him out. Give them two rounds to try and take his head off. That's the energy he needs."
Haye pointed to Joshua's sometimes awkward performances when fights become gritty. "As soon as it becomes a real fight, it doesn't always flow for him," he observed, referencing even the victory over Daniel Dubois. The new, rigorous sparring regimen is designed to make Joshua comfortable in that "battle zone."
Strategic Stakes and a Crazy Bet
Beyond the ring, Haye sees significant strategic value for Joshua. A dominant win boosts his stock ahead of long-awaited negotiations with Tyson Fury. "A devastating win against Jake Paul helps his negotiations... Flattening Jake Paul in America also opens the American market for AJ," Haye noted, dismissing critics who say the fight is a risk.
Yet, in a twist, Haye admitted to placing a small wager on chaos. "I've actually bet on Jake Paul to win by no contest, draw, technical draw, something crazy," he revealed with a smile. He was quick to add a disclaimer: "Don't put everything you own on it though... this would be the biggest sporting upset - not just in boxing, in any sport."
Ultimately, Haye frames the clash as a gamble of belief versus expectation. Jake Paul is betting on belief; Anthony Joshua is gambling on meeting overwhelming expectation. And in the high-stakes world of heavyweight boxing, Haye implies, the latter is by far the riskier wager.
