‘He is getting knocked out’ — Former champion warns ahead of Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul

Former WBC interim lightweight champion Ryan Garcia has sounded the alarm on Jake Paul ahead of the YouTuber’s biggest test yet against Anthony Joshua.

With the fight fast approaching, worrying reports from inside Paul’s camp have raised serious doubts about his readiness for a fully fledged heavyweight showdown.

Jake Paul’s preparation for the December 19 clash at the Kaseya Centre in Miami has been far from smooth. The American was originally set to face world lightweight champion Gervonta Davis in November, only for that bout to collapse following a civil lawsuit involving Davis.

Now stepping into the ring with a former two-time unified heavyweight champion, Paul faces a steep learning curve, having fought just once at heavyweight, a widely viewed exhibition-style bout with Mike Tyson.

In a bid to get up to speed, Paul brought in experienced heavyweight sparring partners, including Lawrence Okolie, Frank Sanchez and Jared Anderson. However, that decision appears to have backfired. In recent days, Paul has been seen sporting visible injuries.

Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, he admitted Sanchez was responsible for damage to his nose, saying: “Sanchez cracked it a little bit, so it definitely had a slight little something in there.”

He was also spotted with a black eye, reportedly inflicted by Okolie, sparking rumours that the fight could be postponed. Former WBC heavyweight champion Bermane Stiverne even suggested the contest might be called off, claiming: “Lawrence Okolie gave him a black eye or something.”

Ryan Garcia, who had been tipped as a potential replacement opponent for Paul earlier this year, claims the situation inside Team Paul is even worse than it appears. Speaking on DDG Live, Garcia shared what he says he has heard from trusted sources within the camp.

“He [Paul] is getting knocked out. I heard word that he's getting beat up in sparring. And these (people) are not even Anthony Joshua. He [Joshua] has got like 50 pounds on him.”

Garcia went further, dismissing Paul’s previous opponents and questioning the legitimacy of his professional record. “He fought Tyron Woodley, Julio Cesar Chavez, all these people that are like ‘names’ but they suck. He's gonna get slept cold, bro.”

If Garcia’s claims prove accurate, Paul could be heading into the toughest night of his career severely underprepared.

Struggling against lesser heavyweights in sparring would spell major trouble against a seasoned operator like Joshua, and it explains why most observers expect a swift and brutal ending when the two finally meet in Miami.