Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua ticket sales tanking? Possible factors

As of Wednesday night, Friedman estimated there were still 10,000 unsold tickets for the boxing match likely to test Paul like no other in his 13-bout pro career.

So what’s gone wrong for an ostensibly far bigger fight than the one Paul was planning against Gervonta "Tank" Davis before it was canceled because of Davis’ legal problems?

This week the only thing apparently tanking was ticket sales.

Why not Wembley Stadium?

 In June, Paul told the Daily Mail he wanted to fight Joshua in Wembley Stadium, the iconic venue in London. A 2-for-1 ticket offer with Joshua, the Brit, fighting among his countrymen is unthinkable.

Joshua’s fight against Daniel Dubois in September 2024 drew a "record-breaking British crowd" of 96,000, according to Sports Business Journal.

The short turnaround after Paul’s scheduled fight with Davis was canceled clearly limited options and they stuck with the venue they secured for the fight against Davis. But there was no guarantee the fight between Paul and Joshua would have been sanctioned in Great Britain.

Gianluca Di Caro, Vice President of the British & Irish Boxing Authority (BIBA), said he would have objected. BIBA is one of two commissions that sanction pro bouts in Great Britain.

"With regard to Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua, I would like to firstly say myself personally am against the plethora of ‘circus act’ fights that have littered the boxing schedule," Di Caro wrote in an email.

The decision over whether to sanction the fight would be made by BIBA’s competition committee and depend in part on medical exams, the boxer’s records and "personal thoughts," according to Di Caro.

Joshua, the former world heavyweight champion, is far more experienced and accomplished than Paul, the former YouTuber.

"And in the case of Paul vs. Joshua, I am fully aware of the committee members’ feelings – so highly unlikely BIBA would have considered the fight," DeCaro said.

The Florida Athletic Commission has not addressed its decision to sanction the fight.

Talk of rigged fights continues

Paul’s account on X is littered with comments expressing suspicion about the integrity of the fight.

Wrote one commenter, "If everyone knew 100% that they (were) both gonna give it there all everyone would go to see Jake get knocked out cold."

There are other possible factors behind the slow ticket sales.

Alabama will be playing Oklahoma Friday in the opening round of the College Football Playoff, possibly keeping college football fans at home. Or, although beloved in England, Joshua simply might lack star power in America. Which is likely one reason Paul’s team reached out to Ryan Garcia and Terence Crawford before agreeing to fight Joshua.

But then there is the persistent talk of rigged fights.

No evidence has surfaced corroborating allegations that Paul’s fights have been scripted, and even the skeptics might consider examining some evidence:

In 2021, Tyron Woodley had Paul on the ropes – literally – in their first fight. And it was clear Paul was saved by the ropes, not by a script, before he prevailed in a split-decision victory.

And surely a script in 2023 did not call for Paul to suffer his only loss as a pro. But that’s what happened in his loss to Tommy Fury by a split decision.

Maybe talk of scripted fights isn’t the only thing getting old.

"The world tired of Jake Paul. His time is coming to an end," wrote a commenter on Paul’s X account.

A lose-lose proposition for Jake Paul?

This fight figures to be a winner for Netflix based on the tens of millions of viewers the streaming giant expects to attract.

But by one perspective, likely held by Paul’s haters, the fight is a lose-lose situation for the former YouTuber.

If Paul beats Joshua and survives eight rounds, the howls about rigged fights will grow louder. After all, Joshua is 28-4 with 25 knockouts. Paul is 12-1 with seven knockouts and a litany of suspect opponents.

If Paul gets knocked out by Joshua, however, it will be proof that he’s an inferior boxer. No matter the outcome, the chatter figures to commence again.

For that, no one needs to buy a ticket – even 2-for-1.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua ticket sales tanking? Possible factors