George Groves: Anthony Joshua Needs to Take Down Jake Paul in 30 Seconds or Risk Being Seen as a Setup

ANTHONY JOSHUA will knock Jake Paul out in 30 seconds or be accused of flopping in a suspicious stinker, says George Groves.

The 36-year-old Watford hero has signed to do eight rounds with the blown-up celeb slapper on December 19 in .

Jake Paul will fight Anthony Joshua on December 19Credit: X @MatchroomBoxing The fight is airing on Netflix Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua agreed their December 19 fight over the phone

And fans are as concerned with AJ’s legacy as they are with the 28-year-old America’s safety.

Paul lost his only semi-serious fight with in 2023 and has most recently stunk out punch-lite decisions over 58-year-old Mike Tyson and 39-year-old Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, bouts so bad online fans accused them of being fixed.

J. But in March 2024 he looked at his ruthless and sensational best when he did a demolition job on 19st MMA knockout machine in barely five minutes.

And former super-middle world champ Groves says he needs a similarly short and savage win to avoid serious questions being asked about his career and credentials.

Groves told SunSport’s Split Decision show: “Jake Paul fighting Anthony Joshua does not look too clever to me.

“It’s a big risk because if he doesn’t annihilate him in the first 30 seconds then it looks fixed. It’s hard.

“If he doesn’t knock him out in 30 seconds I would think he has just had a bit of a stinker but it doesn’t mean it’s fixed.”

Joshua’s schedule is supposedly a , a February tune-up in Saudi and the overdue Tyson Fury showdown in September.

Daniel Dubois knocks out Anthony Joshua during the IBF World Heavyweight title fight 14 months agoCredit: Getty Jake Paul took on Tommy Fury in Riyadh in 2023Credit: Getty

But Groves worries that the longer Joshua drags out the crescendo of his career – and Fury remains in his latest retirement – the less likely they are to finally make the fantasy fight.

Groves told us: “The longer Joshua leaves it, the more it looks like the best option is to not box again.

“If he is going to fight Paul, then have a warm-up fight in February and then Fury in September – then what is Fury going to do?

“He won’t spend two years out of the ring and then come straight back in and fight Joshua, there will be more to it.

“I wanted Fury and Joshua to happen now, I don’t want them to come back and rebuild and work toward another world title.

“I just want them to come back and fight each other to show who the best is.”

show alongside two-fight nemesis Carl Froch but the pair agreed that Joshua’s legacy will be hit by Paul featuring on his record and two glaring absences.

He explained: “It felt like Joshua was top of the tree for so long but he never fought and he beat 18 months after Fury did.

“The best thing Anthony Joshua can do now is fight Tyson Fury.

“But – if he’s in the for free – then he should take the Jake Paul fight.”