Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul fight 'scripted' claims Deontay Wilder as heavyweight sparks safety row

Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul's upcoming fight is scripted, according to former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, who made an explosive allegation.

The former WBC heavyweight champion expressed deep scepticism about the Miami bout scheduled for December 19.

Wilder said: "I think the fight is scripted.

"I think his fights in general have been scripted before. That's just my strong opinion."

The American knockout artist questioned how Paul could credibly leap from facing retired UFC fighters to challenging a two-time unified heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medallist who remains active in the sport.

Wilder highlighted the substantial physical mismatch between the two fighters as further evidence supporting his suspicions.

Paul typically weighs approximately 215lbs, whilst Joshua enters the ring at around 250lbs, a difference of some 35 pounds.

Wilder told the Daily Mail Sport at an IBA event in Dubai : "That is a big difference in weight, especially when you add in Joshua's experience too."

The Bronze Bomber noted that he alone possesses the credentials to attempt such a feat, having regularly faced opponents who weighed 20 to 50 pounds more throughout his career.

He said: "I fight guys 20, 30, 40, 50 pounds heavier than me, you know? But I am able to do that. I can't say the same for Jake Paul."

Wilder drew a sharp distinction between this contest and Paul's November encounter with Mike Tyson.

The former champion described the Tyson bout as entertainment rather than genuine competition, given that Iron Mike was three decades removed from his fearsome prime.

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Wilder explained: "When you looked at that fight, you just thought of it as a fun one.

"You had a legend of the sport in there and was taking on a YouTuber, it was a good one. A fun fight. This is different."

Joshua, by contrast, has maintained an active training schedule and continues competing at elite level, making the matchup fundamentally different in Wilder's assessment.

Despite his belief that the bout may be orchestrated, Wilder issued a sobering reminder about boxing's inherent brutality.

The figher warned: "It's dangerous, no matter when you step your legs over those ropes, or you put your back under the ropes and go in there... it's dangerous."

The Alabama native revealed he undergoes regular CAT scans, MRIs and neurological examinations, often exceeding mandatory requirements, having witnessed too many fighters conceal injuries.

Wilder urged fighters from non-traditional backgrounds to take unseen damage seriously, noting that symptoms may emerge weeks after a contest ends.

He added: "The head is not meant to be hit.

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