Jake Paul’s knockout loss to Anthony Joshua may be settled in the ring, but the fallout online is far from over. Following Paul’s sixth-round stoppage defeat in Miami, allegations quickly surfaced claiming the fight was fixed, accusations that Paul’s team is now forcefully pushing back against.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian confirmed that legal action is being pursued against individuals alleging the bout was staged. Bidarian said lawyers are actively targeting posts claiming there was an agreement for Anthony Joshua not to knock out Jake Paul, claims he described as “astonishing,” particularly given the visible damage Paul sustained in the fight.
Bidarian also referenced criticism from veteran promoter Lou DiBella, who publicly questioned the legitimacy of the contest and even suggested he was unconcerned about being sued. While Bidarian stopped short of confirming whether DiBella is among those facing legal action, he dismissed the idea that Joshua held back or “pulled punches,” noting that Joshua had openly stated pre-fight that failing to score an early knockout would be a disappointment.
According to Bidarian, the narrative surrounding the bout shifted only after the fight failed to end in the opening rounds, despite widespread predictions that Joshua would finish Paul quickly. He emphasized that there has “never once” been any discussion of staged outcomes in Paul’s boxing career, insisting the Joshua fight was no different from any legitimate professional contest.
The loss marked just the second defeat of Paul’s career and his first by stoppage, coming after a major leap in opposition from his previous win over Julio César Chávez Jr.
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