In short
Podcast Summary: The News Agents - Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua: Who's in the Most Danger?
Podcast Overview Hosts: Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel, Lewis Goodall Podcast Type: Daily news analysis Episode Title: Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua: Who's in the Most Danger? - The Sports Agents Release Schedule: Episodes available every weekday afternoon Website: [The News Agents](https://www.thenewsagents.co.uk/)
---
Episode Description In this episode, Anthony Joshua, a two-time heavyweight world champion, is set to fight Jake Paul, a YouTuber turned professional boxer. The hosts discuss the implications of this fight for boxing as a sport, questioning whether it's a legitimate competition or merely a spectacle. The episode features guest Ben Whittaker, an Olympic silver medallist and light-heavyweight prospect, who shares insights on the current state of boxing.
Key Themes
- The Intersection of Boxing and Entertainment: The episode explores why a respected boxer like Anthony Joshua is competing against a social media influencer.
- Concerns for the Sport's Integrity: Discussion centers around the potential risks for both fighters and the broader implications for the sport's credibility.
- Emerging Stars in Boxing: The episode includes a discussion about the need for genuine boxing talent and the impact of celebrity culture on the sport.
---
Key Discussions
- The Fight's Context
- Why Anthony Joshua vs. Jake Paul?
- The hosts question the legitimacy of a former Olympic champion fighting a YouTuber, likening it to an absurd hypothetical scenario.
- This situation raises concerns about the state of boxing and its draw for fans.
- Perspectives from Ben Whittaker
- Good for the Sport?
- Ben posits that this fight could attract new fans, especially children, to boxing, enhancing its visibility.
- Emphasizes the importance of safety and proper procedures in the fight.
- Potential Risks
- Whittaker worries about the dangers involved, suggesting that Paul's lack of boxing pedigree could make this a risky encounter for both fighters.
- The Spectacle vs. Real Sport
- Changing Dynamics:
- The conversation touches on how social media has transformed how boxing is promoted, with a focus on likes and views over traditional accomplishments.
- They discuss whether Joshua's participation diminishes the sport's seriousness or if it's merely adapting to contemporary entertainment trends.
- Whittaker's Career and Insights
- Navigating Modern Boxing:
- Whittaker shares his thoughts on the necessity for boxers to build personal brands and engage with fans through social media.
- He stresses staying true to oneself in the sport despite the pressure to conform to popular trends.
- The Future of Boxing
- Path to Stardom:
- Discussion on what it means for a boxer to succeed today amidst the rise of celebrity fighters.
- Whittaker reflects on his path, emphasizing the importance of authentic self-representation and dedication to the sport.
---
Highlights from The Sports Agents
- Reflections on Major Sporting Events:
- The episode includes a look back at an exceptional year in sports with Clare Balding, discussing notable achievements and moments.
- Insights from Darren Gough about the state of English cricket and the necessary changes needed moving forward.
---
Conclusion This episode of *The News Agents* offers a nuanced look at the intersection of boxing and social media celebrity culture, raising important questions about the sport's future. Through insightful conversations with guests like Ben Whittaker, the hosts delve into the evolving landscape of boxing and the implications of the Joshua vs. Paul fight for both athletes and the sport as a whole.
---
Contact Information
- Questions: [Submit Here](https://forms.gle/9SBbW1SYWqXLKnRT7)
- Listener Survey: [Survey Link](https://forms.gle/YMUvajQktqBuimgh6)
- Watch on YouTube: [The Sports Agents YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@SportsAgentsPod)
- Social Media:
- [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@thesportsagents)
- [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/thesportsagents/)
- [X (formerly Twitter)](https://x.com/sportsagentspod)
- Email: thesportsagents@global.com
---
Episode Production Team
- Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides
- Producer: Sophie Penney
- Video Producer: Sam Trudgill
- Social Media Editor: Calum Scotland
- Editor for The News Agents: Tom Hughes
- Commissioning Editor for Global: Vicky Etchells
---
This summary encapsulates the critical discussions and insights from the episode while providing a structured overview for readers.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:02Anthony Joshua:This is a Global Player original podcast.
0:05Mark Pougatch:Today, two-time heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua is taking on YouTuber turned professional boxer Jake Paul.
0:14Gabby Logan:Like it or not, they're two the biggest names in boxing and we'll get into why that may be problematic.
0:18Mark Pougatch:This is a bit like if Mark decided to challenge me to a horse riding race, maybe, or if I went head to head with Mark on Mastermind on the topic of Chicago Bears. I don't know why horse riding was chosen.
0:31Gabby Logan:No, I don't know why horse riding was.
0:33Mark Pougatch:I would prefer it to have been gymnastics, but, you know, I think I could take you on with racing as well.
0:38Gabby Logan:Mind you, having watched you on the wheel, I think I could win Mastermind on any subject. Hang on, what did I get wrong? At least you got asked a question. When I was on the wheel, I just got spun round for three hours. I literally barked, barked on mine. That was it. You had to do an impression of an animal you'd find on a farm. I barked. That was it. three hours I was there. Why is the sport in a place where the star of the London 2012 Olympics who beat Vladimir Klitschko is fighting an influencer?
1:08Mark Pougatch:After fighting a 60-year-old Mike Tyson, can boxing get much weirder or more dangerous? Do fans have any faith in what they're watching anymore? Do they care? And is UK boxing just crying out for a genuine superstar?
1:19Gabby Logan:Welcome to the Sports Agents.
1:29Anthony Joshua:The Sports Agents with Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman.
1:35Mark Pougatch:Ben Whittaker, welcome to The Sports Agents. We want to talk about you, your career and where you're going. But when people are listening to this right now, it may have already happened. The AJ-Jake Paul fight. They may be listening to this in the build up to that. So I want to get stuck into your thoughts on this and why we've got to this position that this fight is even needed. What were your first thoughts? As somebody who's very charismatic and good at social media, what were your first thoughts when you heard about this fight?
2:07Ben Whittaker:Truthfully, I think it's good for the sport. It brings different eyes, especially the kids. They're getting into the sport through the Jake Pauls and things like that. And it's an opportunity for Anthony Joshua to maximise his brand. So it's good, but somebody can get hurt. So hopefully they don't. Hopefully there's some procedures in place where it's a fight where no one's health at risk. but I'm looking forward to it as a fight fan.
2:29Gabby Logan:I don't want to be too overdramatic, but is this one of the most dangerous fights that's ever been arranged?
2:35Ben Whittaker:Maybe so. You've got a guy that's come from YouTube and Disney Channel. He's taken up the sport in a short space. He's done well. He's fought some good fighters from the USC background, but Andy Joshua's a different level, I think. He's big. He's an Olympic gold medalist. He's a former world champion. He's got all the credentials there.
2:53Gabby Logan:It's the big. It's the big thing, isn't it? I don't, me and Gabby have talked about this before, I don't think unless you have met Anthony Joshua or stood in Anthony Joshua's vicinity that you realise just how big a man he is. I mean he is huge.
3:12Ben Whittaker:Yeah he is and like you said Jake Paul when he does his face off he's usually a big guy himself he's a bit of a unit and it shows how big Anthony Joshua is because he makes him look small so like I said hopefully they both come out the ring healthy can go back to the families as well but at the end of the day it's the fight sport and you can get hurt.
3:28Mark Pougatch:Is it just a spectacle though is it just a kind of a freak show is this really sport?
3:34Ben Whittaker:Yeah, like you said, it is getting to a point where the internet is taking over. The likes and the clicks and the views, they take over some people's accomplishments, sadly. But it's the world we live in now. But like I said, people still want to watch it. I know a lot of people still stay up watching it. They're probably flying out there to watch it. So it just has to go with the times, really. What challenge does this landscape mean for you and your career?
4:00Gabby Logan:as an Olympian, as an Olympic silver medalist, as a professional boxer, what is your path here when the sport seems to be demanding more of people outside the ring?
4:13Ben Whittaker:For me, it's just be yourself. I do sway both ways anyway. I'm very 50-50 on Marmite, so a lot of people like me, a lot of people don't. But in this sport, I think you need that character. But for me, it's not follow the Jake Pauls or the Anthony Joshuas. I've got my own path. like you said I was an Olympic silver medalist so I've got some sort of pedigree
4:33Mark Pougatch:But so is Anthony Joshua right? Why does he need to fight? If the ultimate goal is to get back into a position where he could fight Fury is this the route to that? I mean what's got to happen in this fight for that fight to happen? Has he got to knock him out in a round? Has he got to hurt him? Has he got to give everybody value for money for their tickets?
4:52Ben Whittaker:Yeah he hit the nail on the head there because like you said his pedigree is kind of like a minor Olympic medalist he's a former world champion but I think he's in that position of his career where a big money opportunity come up and he couldn't turn it down. At the end of the day, when your career is all said and done, it's just a job. If you can look after your family or the next generation, you can't really turn down that opportunity. So I'm sure he's done that for that reason and hopefully next year he can get back to the real profession. Well, as long as he wins. That's it, exactly.
5:21Mark Pougatch:And wins in some style.
5:24Ben Whittaker:Exactly. I think he's got to do it in some sort of style where it shows there's a different level. If it is a close fight or it's a 50-50, then it's not going to look good for us boxers. So I'm banking on AJ to do the job.
5:35Mark Pougatch:I still can't understand what's the point.
5:38Ben Whittaker:Nah, me either, to be fair. So you wouldn't do it? You wouldn't take this fight? I wouldn't say no. Like I said, if the money was there, but for me, I've got my own path. I've still got things to achieve. I want to become a world champion. I think that's when all's said and done. If those opportunities come up, I'll say, yeah, why not? But as of now, there's no need for it because I've not done nothing yet.
5:54Gabby Logan:I mean, there are probably 70 million reasons Gaby while he's taken it of course
5:59Mark Pougatch:yeah but he's already earned you know this is the thing is it just money and if it's just money what does that say about boxing of course that the spectacle is needed so much that the sport can't put together genuine contenders yeah
6:12Ben Whittaker:yeah very true because there is a fight where if you're talking about money I'm sure the the Fury AJ fight would make a lot of money I'm sure that's a big money fight there like you said AJ has made crazy money his career but it's easy money in boxing terms it's very easy when are you going to go in there against someone who's not really going to cause a lot of threat or danger and you can probably have the easiest payday in your life
6:33Gabby Logan:going back to sort of your your side of things so you have you have over four million followers on instagram yeah yeah i mean we're both on quite similar numbers there i think so but um you're right there gabby um but when when you are planning flight fights do promoters do organizers do you have to sort of put that number on the table with them yeah i think it's it's all different of course
6:59Ben Whittaker:like you said i've got the platform and the profile there and uh the people do like it it brings certain numbers it brings new eyes like my last fight eddie and pull me to the side and said this crowd's not a crowd we usually see there's loads of kids and it's nice to see the next
7:13Mark Pougatch:generation there where when you say kids what age are you talking probably like six six to twelve
7:19Ben Whittaker:something like that yeah it's a real it's nice to see yeah it's nice to see they all come up and I took photos. And when I was a kid, my mum wouldn't let me go to the boxing studio. It was a bit too dangerous. But I'm bringing in a new crowd. And that's what these promoters and platforms want.
7:32Mark Pougatch:Do you feel, it's kind of extending Mark's point a little bit more, do you feel that is part of your job now, to entertain on Instagram?
7:39Ben Whittaker:Yeah, of course. I think a lot of kids are on it now. When I was a kid, I didn't have a phone. But you see all the kids now, they've got the phones, their iPads, and they're tuning in for what's next and what's hot. So for me, it's, of course, entertain them, but do the job as well. so if a young boxer had no desire to to show that part of themselves on social media just felt a bit
7:59Mark Pougatch:shy you know you know because you're not a shy person it would seem when you're performing have they got have they got a chance in this modern boxing game yeah it's a very that's that's
8:08Ben Whittaker:a tough one to say to be fast i think at the end of the day your accomplishments and achievements speak louder than follows and likes if you become a world champion or olympic champion perfect example for me is my friend Galau Yafai, Olympic gold medalist interim world champion he doesn't like to talk at all I used to say Galau get out there and talk he goes that's not me and at the end of the day fair play to him he stuck to himself I think that's the thing what people need to do is just stick to themselves and think about the end goal if you try and not be something you're not you get found out
8:38Gabby Logan:it would actually be even worse for him wouldn't it if he tried to do something that wasn't him because people would see through
8:45Ben Whittaker:100 % I think when you start forcing it and start doing something that's not you, you'll get found out. Then people will be like, I'm not really buying into. I think you just need to stick to yourself and stick to the dream because at the end of the day, when it's all said and done, if you've achieved what you set out, that's all that matters.
9:00Mark Pougatch:Your style, never mind your social media style, your style in the ring has also attracted a lot of attention because you're an entertainer, boxing with your hands down, sticking your chin out, giving yourself kind of, you know, looking like you're really performing as well as fighting. First of all, I want to know which came first when you were a kid. Is that how you just started out and just doing it like that? And then secondly, are you potentially the great saviour of British boxing because of that?
Read the full transcript
9:31Ben Whittaker:Well, hopefully, hopefully, like I said, all I can do is just keep winning and performing. And that will come, hopefully, one of the greatest boxers Britain's seen. That's what I'm sitting out to do. But my start, funny enough, I was probably the worst in the gym. when I first went down there I used to get beat up week in week out and I remember a couple of couple of months ago me and my dad sat down and watched my old sparring videos I said what did you see in me why did you let me go because if that was my son I wouldn't let him go and he goes there's something about you even though you got beat up you do special things you'd put your chin out or do something flashy and it was something that other kids wasn't doing and then with more confidence more inner confidence flying across the world with team GB fighting different styles
10:13Gabby Logan:something just clicked and then it all came together and did he encourage that then to use your phrase that the flashy stuff because i could think of i could think of a lot of parents who would say to him will you stop showing off and just concentrate on what you're meant to be doing
10:30Ben Whittaker:i think that was me sadly like um when i was doing like the year six leaving assembly i had to be the star of the show um i was i said i was gonna sing one song i ended up doing an album you know i mean so it's always been me I'm always extra and I tip that into the room
10:46Gabby Logan:Did you always want the big part in the nativity? Exactly
10:48Ben Whittaker:but sadly I used to get the donkey No I got the donkey
10:51Gabby Logan:Were you the donkey?
10:52Ben Whittaker:Maybe it all goes back
10:53Gabby Logan:to being cast as a donkey But I'd still talk
10:56Ben Whittaker:I'd still talk as the donkey I wasn't supposed to but I did You know what I mean?
11:00Gabby Logan:Did they go Ben you're the back end Will you shut up?
11:03Mark Pougatch:Exactly So you're a showman?
11:06Ben Whittaker:Yeah yeah I think this is you either got it or you ain't and luckily I've got it but you've got to back it up as well
11:11Mark Pougatch:Your boxing heroes.
11:13Ben Whittaker:That's a good one because it's not really the flashy guys, funny enough. It's more of the purists. So every time I say this name, nobody knows it. It's Mario Kindling. He beat Amir Khan in the Olympic final. Pernell, Whittaker, Tommy Hearns. I grew up in a house where my dad used to make me watch it. He said, if you're going to do it, it is a dangerous sport. So just please watch these fighters. And you've got to get hit and not get hit. That's the name of the game.
11:37Mark Pougatch:Your dad kind of encouraged you and obviously saw something in you. What was his boxing pedigree?
11:43Ben Whittaker:Yeah, so he boxed, he won some national titles. And he just got to the age where he had me, my brother, and he wanted to look after the kids. And then he put my brother into football. My brother was actually good at football, but he got to the age where he fell out of love with it. And then he took me down to the gym for discipline. So I was diagnosed with ADHD. I was bouncing off the walls, getting into trouble, little mischief. And he didn't actually want me to fight. he just wanted to burn off that energy but to impress him and make him a little bit like oh that's my son I signed up myself I did the medical and I came home and said I'm fighting next week
12:16Gabby Logan:and then the rest was history you signed yourself up did you yeah so at what age then were you then
12:22Ben Whittaker:I was in a year seven so what's that like 11 12 something like that I went like I said I went down there just to have a bit of discipline something to do after school my mom and dad didn't want me on the Xbox all the time. So I did that. Then the coach said, we've got a fight next week. If anybody wants to go on there, let me know. I'll sign you up for the medical. I went, yeah, I'll do it. All my friends put the hand up, so I put my hand up. Didn't really think much of it. And then I remember my dad was nervous. Bless him, I could tell. But I was just like, this is all right. This is just like a sparring session.
12:50Ben Whittaker:And I looked over the room and I saw a year 11 from my school. I thought, there's no way I can go back to school beat up. So I went in there doing the alley shuffles. So you had to fight the year 11? No, no, no. You didn't want him to know you were not being up, right? Okay, fine, right. So I was doing all the alley shuffles, this and that. And then he got round school that I was a boxer. I tried to keep it quiet, but he was one of those, so I just kept at it.
13:12Mark Pougatch:So it was almost a self-fulfilling prophecy then, in a way. You became the boxer at school in year seven. And you're living up to this moniker that they've given you. And also trying to kind of win over your, not win over your dad, but impress your dad.
13:25Ben Whittaker:Yeah, of course. I think that's just always been me. I like to impress my dad and my parents and my brother. It's just who I am. So everything I used to win, I'd come back and no matter what the kids at school said, as long as my family was happy, it made me happy and they'd want to make me achieve more and press for more. So that's what type of person I am.
13:44Gabby Logan:Did it help your ADHD as well?
13:46Ben Whittaker:Yeah, yeah, 100%. It really made me focus and lock into something. At school, in the classroom, there's so much going on. My head was wondering where the boxing ring was like my classrooms where I could really channel my energy. and I have a lot of kids now or mums message me or dads message me and not an inspiration but they ask me what to do with their kids you know who's struggling with ADHD and I say don't make them fight if they don't want to fight because it is a dangerous sport but it is something where you can really channel in your energy and burn off your energy
14:16Mark Pougatch:You can still go down to the gym and learn the discipline of boxing without putting yourself up for a fight 100 %
14:22Ben Whittaker:I think every kid needs to you know the way the world is now you never know what's happening so a bit of self-defence is good but not only that at school if you don't make a lot of friends the boxing gym is like a second home they're all friendly the coaches are like your dad's and it's kind of nice it's a nice
14:37Gabby Logan:environment to be in as well so where are you at what's next for you yeah what's next for me uh
14:43Ben Whittaker:the world's more used to really i'm in a good position i just come off a good knockout uh i'm on a big platform with the zone so for me 2026 is going to be a busy year hopefully travel the world keep fighting then 2027 I think that's when I get real serious I'll be like close to a world title
14:58Mark Pougatch:so when when are we looking at your first fight of the year then it should be March I think uh
15:03Ben Whittaker:speaking to my team it looks like America so that'll be quite good oh yeah that'll be good I'm trying to cut out the Krispy Kremes and the hot chocolate now get back into shape enjoy
15:12Mark Pougatch:Christmas though let's have enjoy Christmas yeah since a kid I've always missed Christmas like I
15:16Ben Whittaker:said since I signed up you always have the championships January so all over Christmas I've always missed it.
15:22Mark Pougatch:You're always in a cut and getting yourself ready.
15:23Ben Whittaker:Yeah, so this is the first Christmas where I can probably chill a little bit, have a bit of family time and look after my loved ones.
15:28Mark Pougatch:Well, look, if things go well for you, I don't think we need AJ and Jake Paul, do we? I mean, that's going to be a sideshow to your career.
15:35Ben Whittaker:Exactly, hopefully.
15:36Gabby Logan:Just a final one on him then. And we're recording, obviously we're recording this before the fight, but the sort of last week leading up to this fight, and you know him, given the sort of nature of this fight and his opponent do you think he might be more nervous going in to this than he would have been in some of the biggest fights that he's had
16:01Ben Whittaker:good question maybe because it's the unknown you don't know what jake paul's gonna actually do you don't know what style he's gonna bring you don't know how actually hard he hits don't know if he's a real fighter but i think the good thing is aj's had ups and downs in his career he's been an Olympic final. He's had losses, he's had wins. So I think, if anything, in this position, you don't want to overlook Jake Paul because that's what I'd probably do. You'd go in there thinking, oh, this kid, it's going to be an easy fight and you could come unstuck.
16:29Mark Pougatch:So would his camp, the intensity, have been exactly the same as any of his big fights? I think so.
16:35Ben Whittaker:If I was in that position, I would because if you take your foot off the gas and Jake Paul does cause an upset, how bad's that going to look for boxing? Exactly so.
16:43Mark Pougatch:I mean, just on that, he loses, if he lost, this fight, that would be the end of AJ?
16:48Ben Whittaker:I think so, sadly. I don't know where he could come from that. Maybe a rematch or a trilogy or something crazy like that but if I was in that position, you lost to AJ, Paul, it's not the best look but I suppose he could run away with some millions so he don't really mind.
17:02Gabby Logan:I'm struggling to get through one fight like this, to be honest with you Ben. I'm not sure I could go through a trilogy.
17:10Mark Pougatch:Thanks so much for coming in and best of luck with everything. We're really excited about what your future holds.
17:16Ben Whittaker:Thank you very much.
17:17Mark Pougatch:Thank you.
17:29Mark Pougatch:It's been a busy week on The Sports Agents. Ahead of this third test in Adelaide, we had a chat with Darren Gough.
17:37Jake Paul:And if we carry on the way we are, the last three or four years has been an absolute waste because whoever comes in now has got to try and rebuild it again because they've got rid of a lot of the coaches within the side, you know, a lot of coaches within. He's brought in his close friendship circle. It's become like a football management style event. I think there's going to be wholesale changes. The only one that stays for me would be the skipper.
18:05Gabby Logan:Claire Balding joined Gabby as well to look back at the year in sport.
18:10Mark Pougatch:There's an athlete from New Zealand called Geordie Beamish who you probably haven't heard of, who in the steeplechase, he was on the deck. He fell over, as happens in the steeplechase quite a lot. There's a brilliant photograph of an athlete spiking his head because, you know, he'd fallen down. He was being run over. Gets up, gets himself into the final and wins New Zealand's first ever gold on the track in a world championships. And it's not just because I'm a Newcastle fan, Claire, that the name Geordie Beamish indicates to me his family have heritage from the Northeast and he wears black and white in New Zealand.
18:42Mark Pougatch:But I just thought he deserved a special mention because he literally got himself back up off the deck and won gold. So that's it for another week on the Sports Agents. If you've been listening to this on the News Agents feed, just search for the Sports Agents to listen to those episodes in full on YouTube, Global Player or wherever you get your podcasts. And remember to hit subscribe or follow.
19:03Gabby Logan:Please get in touch. the email the sportsagents at global.com social media the link in the show notes and we'll have new episodes every tuesday thursday and friday thanks for listening the sports agents with gabby and mark chapman this has been a global player original production
From the publisher
Two-time heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua, is taking on YouTuber-turned-professional boxer Jake Paul. Like it or not they’re two of the biggest names in boxing - and we’ll get into why that’s problematic...
So why is the star of the London 2012 Olympics, who beat Wladimir Klitschko, fighting an influencer? Do fight fans believe it's not been scripted and what's actually more at risk - Paul's chin or AJ's reputation?
Gabby & Mark sit down with Light-Heavyweight prospect and Olympic silver medallist Ben Whittaker - a showman in and out of the ring at a time when the sport is crying out for its next homegrown superstar.
Plus we pick the best bits of The Sports Agents this week, from reminiscing about an extraordinary year in sport with Clare Balding ahead of SPOTY, to despairing at the Ashes with former England cricketer Darren Gough.
📩 Got a question? Send it here: https://forms.gle/9SBbW1SYWqXLKnRT7
💭 Tell us your thoughts in our listener survey: https://forms.gle/YMUvajQktqBuimgh6
🖥️ Watch our full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SportsAgentsPod
📱Follow us on socials:
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@thesportsagents
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thesportsagents/
X - https://x.com/sportsagentspod
📥 Email: thesportsagents@global.com
Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides
Producer: Sophie Penney
Video Producer: Sam Trudgill
Social Media Editor: Calum Scotland
Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network
Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global
You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".
👕 The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-sports-agents