Just finished watching the Paul vs. Joshua card on Netflix. I’ve got my notes here, and honestly, as a boxing coach, this went about as expected—but maybe not in the way the casual fans thought. Let’s break this down from a technical and physiological perspective, because there’s a lot to unpack here regarding weight classes, conditioning, and just pure combat sports reality.

First off, the weigh-in numbers were the biggest foreshadowing. We had Jake coming in light at around 217 lbs and AJ looking absolutely massive at over 240 lbs. In powerlifting terms, that’s a different weight class entirely. In boxing, it’s a death sentence if you don't have the power to keep the big man off you.

We saw it immediately. AJ didn't respect Jake's power because he didn't have to. That weight advantage allowed AJ to walk forward without fear of getting cracked by something that would actually hurt him.

Technically, Jake did the only thing he could do: he got on his bike.

Paul's Movement: He was moving laterally, clinching, trying to make it ugly. I give him credit for his conditioning; carrying 217 lbs and moving for 4-5 rounds like that isn't easy. He wasn't looking to win; he was looking to survive.

I saw some people in the comments saying AJ looked slow. He wasn't slow; he was patient. He was cutting the ring off (though not as cleanly as I’d like to see from an elite heavyweight), but he was systematically taking away Jake's legs. The commentary team was right. AJ needed to jab and go to the body early to drain that gas tank, and eventually, he did.

The mid-fight adjustments were clear. Jake’s corner probably told him to try and loop that right hand over AJ's jab, but you can’t bully a bully. AJ started sitting down on his punches in the 5th and 6th, and that’s when the "circus" ended and the sport began.

The knockdown sequence was textbook heavyweight boxing. AJ went to the body—which, as a trainer, I love to see—and that froze Jake. Once the legs are gone from body shots, the head is a stationary target. The stoppage in the sixth was necessary. You could see Jake’s equilibrium was shot; his legs weren't just tired, they were disconnected.

I expect the Florida commission to hand out a lengthy medical suspension. He needs a full neurological workup. No tough guy stuff here—brain health is number one.

Look, I can’t hate on the hustle. Jake lasted six rounds with a former unified Heavyweight Champion of the World. He’s going to walk away with millions, his stock probably goes up for surviving, and Netflix got their views.

But for us in the gym, teaching the sport? It reinforces that there are levels. You can’t "YouTube" your way into beating an elite heavyweight in their prime.

What’s Next?
Jake says he’s taking a break. Good. He needs to recover. I think he stays in boxing but goes back to fighting non-boxers or lower-tier pros where the risk of permanent damage is lower. As for AJ, this was a glorified sparring session to get his confidence back.

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