The public and sharps are split on Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua
Ticket count and handle tell very different stories depending on the sportsbook
See the full Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua betting splits below
Tonight’s Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua fight on Netflix is drawing action from all sides. The public is loading up on Paul as an underdog, but the money tells a different story depending on which sportsbook you’re looking at.
We provided betting splits from DraftKings and theScore Bet (formerly ESPN Bet) to see where the action is landing ahead of tonight’s fight.
Paul vs Joshua Betting Splits (DraftKings)
| Market | Outcome | % Handle | % Bets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Jake Paul | 86% | 83% |
| Winner | Anthony Joshua | 14% | 17% |
| Total Rounds | Under | 2% | 5% |
| Total Rounds | Over | 98% | 95% |
| Go the Distance | Yes | 99% | 92% |
| Go the Distance | No | 1% | 8% |
At DraftKings, 83% of bets and 86% of the money wagered is backing Jake Paul. That’s public money flooding in on the underdog, chasing that +600 payday.
Even crazier: 99% of the handle on the “go the distance” prop is betting yes. DK bettors think Paul survives all eight rounds against a guy with 25 knockouts in 28 wins.
Paul vs Joshua Betting Splits (theScore Bet)
| Outcome | % Bets | % Handle |
|---|---|---|
| Jake Paul | 79.9% | 16.5% |
| Anthony Joshua | 20.1% | 83.5% |
TheScore Bet (formerly ESPN Bet) shows a completely different picture. While 80% of tickets are on Paul, 83.5% of the actual money wagered is on Joshua. That’s the sharp vs. public split in action-lots of small bets on the ‘dog, fewer but much larger wagers on the favorite.
When you see that kind of gap between ticket count and handle, it usually means professional bettors are on the other side. Sharps don’t chase long odds for fun. They bet where the value is, even if it means laying -900 to -1100.
Paul vs Joshua Method of Victory Splits
DraftKings
| Outcome | % Handle | % Bets |
|---|---|---|
| Jake Paul by Decision | 30% | 27% |
| Jake Paul by KO/TKO/DQ | 23% | 25% |
| Anthony Joshua by Decision | 20% | 19% |
| Draw | 14% | 17% |
| Anthony Joshua by KO/TKO/DQ | 13% | 12% |
theScore Bet
| Outcome | % Bets | % Handle |
|---|---|---|
| Jake Paul by KO/TKO/DQ | 33.5% | 23.9% |
| Anthony Joshua by Points/Decision | 26.3% | 19.4% |
| Jake Paul by Points/Decision | 17.3% | 12.5% |
| Anthony Joshua by KO/TKO/DQ | 12.2% | 36.4% |
| Draw | 10.8% | 7.8% |
At theScore, Joshua by KO/TKO only has 12.2% of the bets but 36.4% of the handle. Big money coming in on the knockout, which is how Joshua has finished 25 of his 28 opponents.
Meanwhile, 33.5% of tickets at theScore are on Paul by KO/TKO. The public thinks “The Problem Child” is going to knock out a former two-time heavyweight champion.
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Most Popular Exact Method Bets
TheScore Bet also shared which exact method of victory props are drawing the most action:
By ticket count:
Anthony Joshua to Win by KO
Jake Paul to Win by Split Decision
Jake Paul to Win by Disqualification
Anthony Joshua to Win by TKO
By handle:
Anthony Joshua to Win by KO
Anthony Joshua to Win by Unanimous Decision
Anthony Joshua to Win by TKO
Jake Paul to Win by Split Decision
Joshua to Win by KO tops both lists. Whether you’re looking at ticket count or handle, that’s the most popular exact outcome. If you’re betting on how this ends, most money is on AJ putting Paul to sleep.
Paul by Split Decision and Paul by Disqualification ranking high on tickets is telling. The public isn’t betting on Paul to outbox Joshua. They’re betting on chaos or controversy.
What Do the Betting Splits Tell Us?
The gap between DraftKings and theScore is worth noting. At DK, the public is all-in on Paul across both tickets and handle. At theScore, the ticket count favors Paul but the money is hammering Joshua.
Different platforms attract different bettors. But the theScore numbers look more like what you’d expect when sharps and recreational bettors disagree-lots of small tickets on one side, fewer but heavier wagers on the other.
The public loves a good underdog story, and Paul at +600 is tempting. But when 80% of tickets are on one side and only 16.5% of the money, that’s worth paying attention to. The people betting serious cash aren’t buying what Paul is selling.
Joshua is a -900 to -1100 favorite for a reason. He’s a former two-time heavyweight champion with 25 knockouts. Paul has never faced anyone close to this level. The public can dream, but the money knows better.
Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua betting splits provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and theScore Bet on December 19, 2025.
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