YouTube sensation turned professional boxer Jake Paul has revealed his surprising strategy to defeat former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in their upcoming blockbuster fight.
The High-Stakes Miami Showdown
The highly anticipated bout is scheduled for Friday, December 19 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, just six days before Christmas. The contest will be fought over eight three-minute rounds with both fighters wearing 10oz gloves, and crucially, the result will count on both men's professional records regardless of the outcome.
Paul, normally a cruiserweight, is moving up to heavyweight for only the second time in his career. His previous heavyweight appearance resulted in a points victory against boxing legend Mike Tyson in November last year, though he failed to secure a knockout.
Paul's Unconventional Advantage
Despite facing what many consider his toughest opponent yet, Paul believes being the smaller fighter actually gives him a critical edge. Having studied Joshua's previous losses to Oleksandr Usyk and Andy Ruiz Jr, the 28-year-old American identified what he calls Joshua's "kryptonite."
"His footwork. His rhythm. His speed and crossing his feet," Paul stated. "All of these things are going to have a big play on Friday, December 19. I think it's watching his Daniel Dubois fight. Watching the Andy Ruiz Jr fight and even watching the Oleksandr Usyk fight. And when you look at it, he has lost to guys who are smaller than him."
Paul elaborated on his game plan, suggesting that Joshua struggles against faster, more agile opponents who can avoid his powerful punches. "He is an amazing fighter and one of the best heavyweights ever. I just think with speed and footwork and being in a rhythm, I do not think he can handle that," Paul explained.
Joshua's Vicious Response
Anthony Joshua isn't taking the fight lightly despite Paul's relative inexperience against top-level boxing competition. The British heavyweight has vowed to deliver a devastating performance that goes beyond a simple victory.
"It's not a win for me if I just beat him; I need to knock him out," Joshua declared. "I'm going to break his face and break his body. I'm here to prove I'm the better fighter and will do that until I stop fighting. I'm going to go in there and do a job. I want to hurt him, I'm going to want to really hurt him in the ring."
Joshua plans to bring a level of boxing sophistication that Paul hasn't encountered before. "I'm going to come forward and impose myself. I'm going to land heavy punches and expose him to certain tricks in boxing that he maybe hasn't seen yet. And I'm going to bring him to a different school of boxing that he maybe hasn't been exposed to yet."
The fight represents a crucial moment for both fighters. Joshua is looking to rebound from his September 2024 knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois, while Paul hasn't fought since outpointing former champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr back in June.
British fight fans can catch the action live on Netflix, with ring walks expected around 4am UK time (11pm local Miami time), though exact timing may vary depending on the undercard duration.
