Anthony Joshua returns to the ring for a surprise showdown with YouTube star Jake Paul on Friday. Below, a look back at some unusual fights in boxing history…

George Foreman vs The Five

George Foreman’s fearsome reputation took a heavy blow after his surprise loss to Muhammad Ali. This is something he’s grappling with. What’s the answer to restoring your reputation? One afternoon in April 1975, he got into a fight with five men.

Don King’s promotion was billed as “boxing’s greatest show event” and was communicated by Ali. It was widely seen as more of a publicity stunt than a legitimate challenge.

Foreman won all five fights, the first three via stoppage. Eventually fatigue grew and the show began, but the spectacle cemented the event’s place in boxing folklore.

Muhammad Ali vs Antonio Inoki

Muhammad Ali fought in numerous exhibition matches throughout his career, but his 1976 fight against Antonio Inoki in Tokyo was particularly memorable.

Inoki, a famous Japanese wrestling star, was restricted by a rule that prohibited standing takedowns, submissions, throws or kicks.

As a result, Inoki immediately fell on his back from the first round and kicked Ali upwards repeatedly. Inoki landed over 100 kicks, while Ali barely landed a punch. Inoki was praised for surviving, while Ali’s legs were a mess. It’s weird, hilarious, and somehow considered a draw.

Trevor Berbick VS Nobuhiko Takada

In another match known as “Boxers vs. Wrestlers,” the former heavyweight world champion traveled to Japan in 1991 to face Nobuhiko Takada.

Berbick didn’t realize Takada could kick below the belt. What follows is almost farce. Berbick complained to the referee several times, and Takada kicked him continuously.

Berbick left the ring without throwing a punch, frustrated and humiliated.

Oscar De La Hoya vs Shaquille O’Neal

One of the most memorable matches on the list took place in the 2009 TV series. NBA star Shaquille O’Neal battled Oscar De La Hoya over four two-minute rounds while wearing a helmet.

De La Hoya won by unofficial unanimous decision. Both the game and the series were widely criticized.

Evander Holyfield VS Mitt Romney

In 2015, 68-year-old former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney took to the ring with 52-year-old Evander Holyfield.

“The good news is, Evander Holyfield always comes out on top, but sometimes in politics that’s not the case,” Romy quipped.

In this fight, Holyfield fell to the ground early, but Romney gave up after two rounds. What are the benefits of this game? It raised money for charity.

Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor

Even Jake Paul would struggle to match the financial success of the Mayweather-McGregor fight in 2017, which brought in an estimated $600 million. Could a non-professional fighter defeat one of the greatest fighters in his sport? Unsurprisingly, the answer is no.

McGregor got off to a pretty good start, looking sharp in the early rounds, but quickly discovered that his MMA striking power didn’t translate to boxing. Mayweather teased him and eventually stopped him late in the fight.

The result isn’t shocking considering Mayweather’s perfect 49-0 record, but it still seems shocking to some MMA fans.

While Paul vs. Joshua might raise eyebrows, it’s still nowhere near as ridiculous as some of the historical oddities we’ve seen. That’s the thing to remember, for all its seriousness and skill, boxing has never shied away from dramatic mayhem.