Sean O’Malley, currently the No. 2 contender at bantamweight in the UFC, is a personal friend of YouTuber-turned boxer Jake Paul (12-1, 7 KOs.) In case you’ve just tuned in, Jake Paul is due to make an appearance inside the squared circle of boxing on Dec. 19.
That Friday before Christmas, Jake Paul’s opponent in a professional heavyweight fight will be Anthony Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) from Miami’s Kaseya Center. Among the rules for this fight are the fact that the fighters will be wearing 10-oz gloves and the stipulation that Anthony Joshua can’t exceed 245 lbs on the morning of the official weigh-in.
While Jake Paul will be wearing his normal 10-oz gloves six days before the Christmas holiday at the home venue of the NBA’s Miami Heat, that’s the least of Sean O’Malley’s worries as the fight draws closer. Anthony Joshua is no slouch in the boxing ring. He’s already held the heavyweight championship twice over.
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Sean O’Malley Takes to YouTube to Air Concerns Over Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua
Ahead of the Dec. 19 main event in South Florida, Sean O’Malley used the most recent episode of his YouTube series, The Bro Malley Show, to talk about the upcoming eight-round boxing fight between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua.
“This fight, as a friend of Jake’s, is… I’m scared,” Sean O’Malley began. “Dude, getting knocked out by someone like that changes lives. It doesn’t just change your career path. It doesn’t go ‘Ah, maybe I don’t box.’ It can change lives. You have one (expletive deleted) brain and he’s willing to go out there and fight [Anthony Joshua.] That is absolutely insane.”
Prior to Jake Paul accepting the fight against Anthony Joshua on Nov. 17, he was scheduled to have fought in an exhibition versus Gervonta Davis. On Nov. 3, however, the Davis exhibition was canceled by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions. Gervonta Davis was named in a civil suit brought on by his now-ex-girlfriend, who brought up charges of false imprisonment, simple and aggravated battery.
Sean O’Malley Gives Hope for Jake Paul Fight
In that same show, Sean O’Malley mentioned that he was hopeful for one outcome over any other, the fight going to the judges’ scorecards.
“If Jake goes to a decision and loses a decision to [Joshua,] I think that’s a win,” he said. “That’s a massive win. If he goes out there eight three-minute rounds with Anthony Joshua, that is a win.”
Sean O’Malley also made reference to Anthony Joshua’s 2024 fight against Francis Ngannou. That night, in the second round of an advertised 10 inside Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Ngannou absorbed a vicious right-handed punch from Joshua, sending him to the canvas in a scary moment, not regaining consciousness for several moments.
“Francis fights Anthony Joshua, Anthony Joshua knocks him out cold in two rounds,” O’Malley said.
Height Difference Between Jake Paul, Anthony Joshua Not Lost on Sean O’Malley
As far as height goes, Jake Paul is five inches shorter than his Dec. 19 opponent at 6-foot-1, compared to the 6-foot-6 frame of Anthony Joshua, something that O’Malley was certain to make note of ahead of the anticipated Netflix clash in a few short weeks.
“Did you see how huge that guy is?,” Sean O’Malley asked “6-foot-6, 265.” Once this fight begins, Jake Paul won’t be giving up a height advantage. Anthony Joshua also bests him in the reach category, as well.
Numerically speaking, Joshua owns an 82-inch reach, compared to a 76-inch for Jake Paul. It’ll be interesting to see whether or not these figures play a role once the bell rings on the Friday night before Christmas.
Final Thoughts
Sean O’Malley’s concerns for his colleague ahead of the Dec. 19 superfight in Miami are valid. This will only be Jake Paul’s 15th professional fight, compared to the 33rd for Anthony Joshua.
While some might say that Anthony Joshua is past his prime in The Sweet Science, the fact that Joshua is a former heavyweight champion in boxing is not one that can be easily dismissed. Jake Paul and his camp have to treat Joshua with the same seriousness afforded to his earlier opponents in pro boxing.
Whether or not Sean O’Malley’s worries about Jake Paul will come to fruition remains to be seen. Love him or hate him, Jake Paul’s next fight will be an entertaining eight rounds or less of action.
