UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington isn’t giving Jake Paul any credit for stepping into the ring with former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua even after Paul followed through on the risky matchup.
The highly publicized bout took place Friday night at Kaseya Center, streaming globally on Netflix. Joshua put an emphatic end to the spectacle, knocking Paul out in Round 6 and reportedly breaking his jaw in two places.
Covington, never one to pull punches verbally, mocked both the fight and Paul’s decision-making during a rant on his YouTube channel. “Well, that one wasn’t scripted, and if it was, Anthony Joshua never got the script,” Covington said.
“This fight reminded me of the episode of Jackass where Johnny Knoxville had a boxing match with Butterbean in the department store. People tuned in to see if Jake was dumb enough to actually go through with getting mangled by a heavyweight boxer and just like Johnny Knoxville, Jake delivered in embarrassing Jackass fashion.”
Paul (12-2) survived three knockdowns before eventually being finished. But Covington dismissed any notion of toughness or legitimacy gained from the performance.
“Jake didn’t prove he was really tough or a real boxer. He just proved he’s really stupid,” Covington continued. “I can’t believe people actually bet on a Disney Channel kid to beat an Olympic gold medalist and world heavyweight champion. That whole show was an embarrassment.”
“Hang the Gloves Up”
Covington went even further, questioning whether Paul’s boxing experiment should continue at all. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Jake’s done cosplaying as a fighter for good now. Hang the gloves up, Jake,” Covington said.
“There’s no shortcuts or anything they can ever inject you with that will make you a real fighter. Go sell deodorant to broccoli-headed teenagers or whatever it is that you do. Leave the fighting to the professionals.”
Paul Already Calling for Canelo
Despite the brutal loss and broken jaw, Paul wasted little time setting his sights on another blockbuster name. Shortly after the fight, he publicly called out boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez. Signaling that his ambitions remain firmly rooted in marquee matchups rather than tune-ups.
Whether Paul’s next move brings another mega-fight or forces a long pause after his first true heavyweight reality check remains to be seen. But if Covington’s reaction is any indication, criticism from combat sports purists isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
