JAKE PAUL aimed a dig at Tyson Fury when breaking down Anthony Joshua’s fight with Francis Ngannou.

Ngannou meets AJ in a huge heavyweight showdown on Friday in Saudi Arabia.

Anthony Joshua arriving in Riyadh ahead of his fight with Francis NgannouCredit: Getty

Ngannou faces AJ in only his second boxing boutCredit: Getty

It will be only his second professional boxing bout, having made his debut against Fury, 35, in October.

And Ngannou, 37, almost did the impossible by flooring the Gypsy King and taking him to the judges’ scorecards.

But the MMA superstar was on the end of a controversial split-decision loss that saw the mother of all upsets denied.

Still the performance was enough to bring Joshua, 34, to the negotiation table and Ngannou has been afforded another huge boxing payday.

But YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul, 27, cannot help but side with AJ on this one.

He told SunSport: “It’ll be interesting but I think it will be hard for Francis to beat a Joshua that has looked like his old self, whereas I think Ngannou had an old, lacklustre, not focussed Fury.

“I want Francis to win, but I think it’s going to be tough for him.”

Paul’s comments came as he made his own return to the ring in Puerto Rico.

He knocked out 17-2 boxer Ryan Bourland in round one to improve his record to 9-1, with Fury’s brother Tommy, 24, the only man to have beaten him.

Paul – who has claimed Tommy turned down eight-figure offers to rematch – instead set his sights on Canelo Alvarez after his latest KO.

He said: “I’m ready for the big leagues. I’m getting sharp, this is my life now and like I said, I’m on the road to world champion and hey Canelo, stop ducking.

“I know you want it, I know you want it and I’m repping Puerto Rico, you’re repping Mexico so it’s Puerto Rico vs Mexico.”

Jake Paul after knocking out Ryan Bourland in round oneCredit: Amanda Westcott/MVP