The psychological warfare began in earnest on Miami Beach as Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul came face-to-face for the first time ahead of their blockbuster boxing clash this Friday. The press conference and ensuing staredown offered a stark visual of the physical mismatch and set the stage for what Paul promises will be the "biggest upset in sports history."
Contrasting Styles on Display at Miami Presser
Former two-time heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua appeared in relaxed spirits, smiling through media questions. The 36-year-old Brit showed a measure of respect for his opponent, labelling Paul a "frontrunner in the boxing game." However, he also struck a chilling tone when defending his aggressive mindset, stating plainly: "It's my job. We fight. We have a licence to kill." Joshua, who hasn't fought since being knocked out by Daniel Dubois 15 months ago at Wembley, brushed off concerns about a potential defeat, confidently predicting a return to headlining events within two years.
For his part, Jake Paul was brimming with his trademark confidence. The American YouTuber-turned-boxer claimed he is "more important" to the sport than Joshua and argued that true boxing fans should "want me to win." He vowed to knock out the British star and then set his sights on a mega-fight with Tyson Fury. This bout represents a huge opportunity for Paul, hastily arranged after a planned fight with Gervonta Davis was cancelled last month.
The Face-Off: A Glimpse of the Physical Disparity
The climax of the event saw the two fighters stand toe-to-toe for the traditional face-off. The moment laid bare the significant size difference between them, with the 6'6" Joshua towering five inches above his American challenger. Paul attempted to engage in mind games, poking and prodding, which initially drew a steely gaze from Joshua before the former champion eventually broke into a smile, seeing the funny side.
The highly anticipated main event is scheduled for Friday, December 19, at the Kaseya Centre in Miami, in front of a crowd of 20,000. For UK fans, the action is expected to begin in the early hours of Saturday, December 20, at around 3.30am. The fight headlines a stacked card, which was also showcased in Miami.
Full Fight Card Features British World Title Defence
The undercard features eight bouts, with a notable late addition being a WBC lightweight world title fight. Britain's Caroline Dubois, a recent signing for Paul's MVP promotional outfit, will defend her belt against Camila Panatta. The full roster's presence underscored the scale of the Netflix-streamed event.
All that remains now is for the talking to stop and the fighting to begin. The next time Joshua and Paul see each other will be in the ring, where the verbal jabs will be replaced by punches in a contest that has captured the global spotlight.
