Carl Froch believes Anthony Joshua will knock out Jake Paul in the opening round of their clash.
Paul will face Joshua in an eight-round heavyweight showdown in Miami on December 19, live on Netflix.
Froch has been embroiled in a war of words with Paul for much of his 13-fight professional career and the former super middleweight champion has backed his ex-trainer partner to finish him in emphatic fashion.
“This is a one round job,” the 48-year-old told Froch On Fighting.
“Because AJ, even though he’s past his best, even though he’s seen better days, he throws a nice one-two down the middle.
“He’s got a nice bit of distance and Fake Paul can’t fight.
“I don’t care what anybody tells me, he can’t f***ing fight.
“He lost to Tommy Fury for crying out loud.
“He can’t jump in with Anthony Joshua now and expect to get a result.”
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Paul, 28, is as high as a 9-1 underdog to pull off a sensational upset agains the former two-time heavyweight world champion who will step into the ring for the first time since a fifth round loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024.
‘The Problem Child’ was set to face lightweight world champion, Gervonta Davis in an exhibition earlier this month, but the controversial meeting was shelved after Davis was accused of attacking an ex-girlfriend in a civil lawsuit.
Paul’s team reportedly approached Ryan Garcia and undisputed super middleweight champion, Terence Crawford, but landed on ‘AJ’ after those bouts failed to materialise.
According to Paul’s manager, Nakisa Bidarian, Joshua cannot weigh in any more than 245lbs, seven pounds lighter than he weighed against Dubois.
“This isn’t an AI simulation. This is Judgment Day,” Paul said.
“A professional heavyweight fight against an elite world champion in his prime.
“When I beat Anthony Joshua, every doubt disappears, and no one can deny me the opportunity to fight for a world title.”
The YouTuber-turned-boxer will look to ruin hopes of a long-awaited showdown between Joshua and Tyson Fury, which was seemingly hinted at by Saudi Arabian boxing chief, Turki Alalshikh, who confirmed that the 36-year-old will fight in Riyadh in February before fighting in London in September in “one of the greatest fights in the history of boxing.”
Joshua and Paul are set to come face-to-face for the first time at a press conference in Miami on Friday.
