Anthony Joshua's Surprising Path to Jake Paul Fight Revealed

Before accepting the highly anticipated fight against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, Anthony Joshua had another heavyweight contender in mind. The former unified world heavyweight champion had American boxer Cassius Chaney on his shortlist for his next bout.

Joshua will face Paul in Miami on December 19, marking his first fight since losing his IBF world title challenge to Daniel Dubois in September of last year. The matchup with Paul, known for his social media fame rather than his boxing prowess, came as a surprise to many.

Chaney, a 38-year-old from Baltimore, had been hoping to secure a fight against Joshua at this weekend's David Benavidez vs Anthony Yarde event in Saudi Arabia. The heavyweight, with a professional record of 24 wins and 3 defeats, expressed disappointment but remained optimistic about future opportunities.

"The boxing business is all about timing. I was hoping for the Joshua fight, but it didn't work out this time. I'm still knocking at the door and I'm confident my time will come," Chaney told Sky Sports.

Meanwhile, British heavyweight contender Lawrence Okolie has offered to spar with Paul to prepare him for the bout against Joshua. Okolie, a former world champion at cruiserweight and the current No.1 ranked heavyweight contender with the WBC, is intrigued by Paul's decision to face the experienced and formidable Joshua.

"I want to go help Jake Paul, give him a chance. I want to know what's allowed him to believe he can compete with a world-class heavyweight like AJ," Okolie said.

Okolie, who has sparred with Joshua in the past, acknowledges the significant skill and size difference between the two fighters but remains open to the possibility of an upset. He predicts that the fight could last longer than expected, depending on how Paul performs.

"I don't think AJ will go in there planning to end it quickly. But if Jake Paul starts landing punches, that's when it could get interesting," Okolie reflected.

The boxing world eagerly awaits the outcome of this unusual matchup, as Joshua seeks to regroup after his recent loss and Paul looks to prove himself in the ring.