Anthony Joshua's former trainer makes brutal prediction for Jake Paul bout

Anthony Joshua should stop Jake Paul when they meet, according to the former's onetime trainer Robert Garcia, who backs the star to "knock him out cold".

The Briton and the American meet tonight in Miami, with the two-time heavyweight champion an overwhelming favourite to claim victory against his opponent.

Paul, a former social media star-turned-fighter, steps up from his natural cruiserweight for a contest where he is the distant underdog to score a major upset.

But Garcia, who previously trained Joshua for his second bout with Oleksandr Usyk, at least credits 'The Problem Child', even as he expects his defeat too.

"Jake Paul is doing great things in boxing," he told The Ring. "It doesn't matter that Anthony Joshua lost his last fight, or the issues that he's going through.

"He's a boxer and a real fighter, and he has great power. Jake Paul should have no chance against Anthony Joshua. Anthony Joshua should knock him out cold.

"I never thought the fight would get made. I never thought Jake Paul [was] crazy enough. He takes those challenges. He knows that he's making a lot of money,” 

"If Jake Paul wants to get knocked out for $50 million, I don't blame him. I would do the same thing. He is going to make a huge event. It's going to be a great event."

Joshua chases quick rounds on comeback trail

DAZN News correspondent Andrew Steel

D-day has arrived for one of boxing's most intriguing matchups since the last time Jake Paul took aim at a heavyweight champion - but this is a different beast.

Mike Tyson was long-retired, over the hill and still fought in a bout with plenty of stipulations that sought to equalise both men. There was some serious intrigue.

For Anthony Joshua though, it seems positively crackers that he could suffer his fifth professional loss in Miami. The Briton arrives fully expected to win this bout.

Quite how he operates however is another matter. After more than a year on the sidelines, this ad-hoc encounter offers the chance to bank some quick rounds.

Might Joshua resist the urge to go for the swift knockout in order to get his fight legs back into the swing of things? And could Paul cause problems if so from there?

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