Podcast Summary: The Daniel Cormier Show – DC REACTS to Anthony Joshua KNOCKING OUT Jake Paul | Boxing Instant Reaction

Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Episode Date: December 21, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Daniel Cormier delivers a passionate, unscripted reaction to the much-hyped boxing match between heavyweight Anthony Joshua and internet sensation-turned-boxer Jake Paul. The bout, which ended with Joshua knocking out Paul, serves as a focal point for Cormier’s analysis of spectacle, legitimacy, and risk in modern boxing—especially as “celebrity boxing” meets the sport’s true elite. DC praises Joshua for defending boxing’s pride, critiques the staging of the fight, and surprisingly shows newfound respect for Jake Paul’s gumption. This is an episode filled with sharp insight, fight breakdowns, industry context, and memorable candid commentary.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pre-Fight Expectations and the Stakes for Boxing

• Celebrating Reality Over Fairy Tale:
  • Cormier opens by quashing the idea that Jake Paul had any real shot at victory:
    • “Whoever believed that Jake Paul was going to win, that was an absolute fairy tale.” (05:09-05:19)
  • He jokes about a friend betting on Paul and predicts the inevitability of Joshua’s win.
• Boxing's Reputation at Risk:
  • DC frames the fight as critical for boxing’s integrity, especially with Joshua as a representative of the sport:
    • “First and foremost, you can't lose to a guy that's perceived to be a YouTuber—even though today Jake Paul is more boxer than YouTuber.” (05:32-05:45)

2. Jake Paul’s Transformation and Courage

• Not Just a Gimmick:
  • Cormier acknowledges the seriousness of Paul’s dedication, pointing out his million-dollar training camps and full commitment:
    • “He’s a boxer. He’s just not a boxer at that level.” (05:52-05:56)
  • DC recalls a conversation with Logan Paul, confirming that there were “no safeguards” to protect Jake against Joshua’s knockout power.
• Unexpected Respect:
  • Cormier concedes Jake Paul’s toughness:
    • “Dude’s got balls. Standing there with AJ…” (06:27)
    • “Hats off to him; he got up and he kept fighting.” (09:18)

3. Fight Breakdown: Tactics and Turning Points

• Early Rounds: Paul’s Game Plan Works—Briefly
  • Jake Paul aims to frustrate Joshua by moving and clinching, resulting in an uneventful first round:
    • “In the first round, neither one of them landed a damn punch... This is a nightmare.” (06:53-07:10)
    • DC laments the slow pace and intrusive refereeing, noting multiple clinches and even MMA-style “double legs.”
    • Notable Quote:
      • “Jake is out there shooting double legs on AJ. The ref looked like he was going to take a point—never took a point.” (07:24-07:31)
• Joshua’s Adjustments and Growing Dominance
  • Joshua’s persistence with the jab and bodywork wears Paul down:
    • “By the fifth round, he knocked him down twice... body shots putting him down.” (08:15-08:28)
  • Paul shows grit by getting up after knockdowns, at times appearing injured or on the brink of quitting.
• The Sixth Round and Climax
  • Cormier describes the anticipation and then the brutal finish:
    • “In the sixth round, you could just tell it was over… Joshua was going to eventually land something that hurt Jake Paul.” (09:42-09:55)
    • Boxing insiders wanted a definitive, even punishing finish:
      • “Rosendo... goes, ‘I hope he gets knocked out bad. He didn’t want it to get TKO; they wanted Paul to get absolutely destroyed.’” (09:56-10:10)
    • Notable Quote:
      • “That right hand... oh my god. He took all of that right hand. You could see in his face he was like, 'Okay, now I understand boxing.'” (10:19-10:30)

4. The Aftermath and Broader Implications

• Fitting Narrative Conclusion
  • Cormier ties the fight’s outcome to a satisfying story arc:
    • “Sometimes a story ends in the way that the story should end. It always should have ended with Anthony Joshua knocking out Jake Paul and that's exactly what we got.” (11:08-11:18)
• Should Paul Get More Credit?
  • DC urges fans and boxing purists to recognize Paul’s courage, reminding listeners that few with so little experience would challenge an elite heavyweight.
  • On Paul’s next steps:
    • “Does he go back to fighting people that don’t belong in there with him or does he… continue this upwards path into fighting these super high level boxers?” (11:45-12:00)

5. Significance for Boxing and Celebrity Crossover

• Cormier argues this was one of the most-watched fights Joshua has had in a while and that Paul’s star power, like Conor McGregor, brings unprecedented visibility.
  • “This has to be one of the biggest… fights AJ's had in a while in terms of visibility… excitement… and it was the least challenging and least threatening fight that he's had.” (12:10-12:22)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• DC's Blunt Realism:
  • “I just put twenty on Jake Paul to win. I was like, bro, you just wasted your money.” (05:12)
• A Turning Point for Jake Paul:
  • “He’s the only one outside of Conor McGregor that could fight this level of fight at his experience and draw in the type of crowd they drew in tonight.” (12:00-12:12)
• Vindication for Boxing:
  • In conversation with his friend Rodrigo about what would’ve happened if Paul had survived:
    • “Would it look bad for boxing?”
      • “Yeah, for sure, it would.” (13:31-13:40)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 05:00: DC begins instant reaction, lays out his disbelief in Paul’s chances.
• 06:20: Analysis of Paul’s seriousness as a boxer; recounting conversation with Logan Paul.
• 07:00 – 08:00: Round-by-round breakdown; critique of pace and tactics.
• 08:30 – 09:30: Joshua’s dominance; Paul’s resilience despite knockdowns.
• 09:42: The sixth round: knockout, DC and Rosendo’s reactions.
• 11:10: Reflections on the narrative arc and DC’s evolving respect for Jake Paul.
• 12:00: Discussion of the event’s magnitude and potential next moves for Paul.
• 13:31: Closing comments with Rodrigo on how critical Joshua’s KO was for boxing’s image.

Bottom Line

Daniel Cormier offers both an entertaining and respectful critique of Jake Paul’s effort while celebrating Anthony Joshua’s emphatic win as a reaffirmation of boxing’s hierarchy. The episode is a must-listen for both fight fans and skeptics of celebrity boxing, offering honest analysis, humor, and a behind-the-scenes feel that captures the spectacle’s significance.