Joshua vs. Paul Fight Criticized as Modern "Bum of the Month" Event

The best we can hope for is that Jake Paul does not get seriously hurt. Anthony Joshua, Netflix, and boxing itself should know better. Exactly 85 years ago, the fearsome heavyweight champion Joe Louis gave a terrible performance. He was in the middle of his "Bum of the Month Club." This was a run of 13 title fights in 29 months against weaker opponents. One such fight was against Al McCoy on December 16, 1940. Most expected McCoy to lose quickly. He did not. McCoy used a crouching, weaving style. He made Louis look "ludicrous," wrote the New York Times. The messy fight was stopped after five rounds. The crowd jeered. Louis won, but only his bank balance grew. The upcoming fight between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul has drawn similar criticism. It is seen as a mismatch made for money, not sport.