Derek Chisora has never been one to hold back, and the heavyweight veteran has now delivered a blunt message to close friend Anthony Joshua ahead of his shock December 19 showdown with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. Speaking on talkSPORT Breakfast, Chisora made it clear: Joshua must finish the job early — or risk serious criticism from the boxing world.

Joshua, a former two-time unified heavyweight champion, stunned fans by agreeing to face Paul in a fully sanctioned professional bout next month. Despite global reaction ranging from amusement to outrage, Joshua enters the fight an overwhelming favorite, with many expecting a quick and brutal finish based on the enormous gap in elite-level experience.

For Chisora, the path is straightforward — and brutally simple.

Chisora to Joshua: “If It Goes Past Five, People Will Doubt You”

“I hope it’s not a game — I want to see blood and someone’s teeth falling out,” Chisora said with trademark intensity. He revealed that he had already spoken privately with Joshua about the fight and didn’t mince words in his message.

“I’ve already messaged Anthony Joshua about the fight,” Chisora said. “I was like, ‘Listen, if this goes past five rounds, people will have a go at you.’ You can’t go past five rounds with this kid. He has to go one or two rounds. If it goes past five, people will be doubting you as a fighter.”

The warning stems from the public’s expectation that Joshua, a world-class heavyweight with victories over the likes of Wladimir Klitschko and Francis Ngannou, should make easy work of Paul — who, despite steady improvement, remains just a few years removed from YouTube and crossover events.

Chisora insists he has no doubt the knockout will come.

“No, he’s not worried [about going past five],” the heavyweight said. “I’m not worried. I’m gonna be there. He will smoke him. I have no doubt about it. I will be there in Miami.”

A Fight Fueling Debate Across Boxing

Joshua vs. Paul has quickly become one of the most polarizing events of the year. Purists have slammed the matchup as a spectacle, with talkSPORT pundit Gareth A. Davies arguing the bout shouldn’t be professionally sanctioned. Others see the fight as a reflection of modern boxing — where entertainment, social reach, and crossover appeal often dictate matchmaking.

Regardless of the noise, the fight will be a fully licensed professional contest, counting on both men’s official records. Paul, now 9–1 as a pro, has shown improvements over his past few fights, but facing a former unified heavyweight champion remains a monumental leap.

Chisora, however, embraces the industry’s evolution.

“Listen, we are in the game of entertainment,” he said. “People are going to buy tickets to watch these two fight — we are all entertainers either way. I’m happy for AJ because he is doing this for himself. And you have to give respect to Jake Paul. Whatever he says he wants to do, he is making it happen. Kudos to the kid. He’s a great promoter of everything he does.”

Why Joshua Took the Fight

To many fans, Joshua’s decision to face Paul came as a shock, especially as the former champion continues attempting to climb back toward the heavyweight title picture. But Joshua himself spelled out the motivation clearly: business.

“Jake or anyone can get this work. No mercy,” Joshua said when the fight was announced. “I took some time out, and I’m coming back with a mega show. It’s a big opportunity for me. Whether you like it or not, I’m here to do massive numbers, have big fights and break every record whilst keeping cool, calm and collected.”

Joshua believes the fight will be a trendsetter for future stars.

“Mark my words, you’ll see a lot more fighters take these opportunities in the future. I’m about to break the internet over Jake Paul’s face.”

High Stakes for AJ — Higher Expectations

For Joshua, this is more than a fight — it’s a global event and a financial powerhouse. But as Chisora stressed, it’s also a dangerous balancing act. Anything less than a dominant early knockout could open the door to backlash, questions, and doubts about where AJ stands in the heavyweight hierarchy.

On December 19, Joshua won’t just be fighting Jake Paul — he’ll be fighting perception. And as Chisora says, the clock will be ticking.