Anthony Joshua’s fight with Jake Paul is being viewed as more than an exhibition bout, with many in the combat sports community believing Joshua is entering the ring to “restore boxing’s honour” following Paul’s controversial defeat of 59-year-old Mike Tyson.

UFC legend Jorge Masvidal told Thunderpick that fans across the world want Joshua to deliver a decisive and violent response when both fighters meet on December 19 in Miami.

Masvidal said the boxing community still resents Paul’s win over Tyson, which many critics described as a publicity stunt, and sees Joshua as the man chosen to “avenge” the sport.

“If AJ goes out there and executes Jake Paul in under a minute, it won’t add or take anything away from AJ’s legacy,” Masvidal argued. “But it’ll make him a folklore hero. People want to see Jake get whooped for what he did to Tyson. These 14-year-olds who adore Jake now will still be talking about AJ when they’re 28.”

Joshua himself has publicly embraced the brutality of the assignment, making it clear he is not interested in a polite exhibition.

“It’s not a win for me if I just beat him—I need to knock him out,” Joshua said. “I’m going to break his face and break his body. I want to hurt him. I’m going to go in there and do a job.”

Even former undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has warned Paul that he may not fully grasp the danger he is walking into.

“If Anthony Joshua wants, he will kill this guy,” Usyk told Boxing Scene. “Joshua is Rolls-Royce; Jake is a Fiat. Yes, I will pray for Jake Paul.”

Paul, who owns a 12–1 record mostly built against ageing MMA fighters and novices, now faces the most dangerous opponent of his career—and perhaps the most unforgiving spotlight yet.