British heavyweight star Anthony Joshua has stood by his incendiary remarks about wanting to "kill" opponent Jake Paul, defending them as part of the necessary fighter's mentality ahead of their blockbuster clash this Friday night.
'It's my job, we have a licence to kill'
The former world champion caused unease at a media conference on Tuesday when he stated, "if I can kill you, I will kill you." Facing questions on the final day of pre-fight promotion, Joshua offered a stark explanation, framing the comment as an occupational reality rather than a personal vendetta.
"It's my job, we fight," Joshua said. "We have a licence to kill. I'm sure many people don't understand it but this is what my job is. I just enjoy what I do." He emphasised that the ultimate goal was victory, stating, "Whatever happens, happens - as long as my hand is raised, that's what's important, respectfully."
The fighter's mentality versus boxing's credibility
Joshua elaborated on the psychological demands of his profession. "That's just the mentality we have to have as fighters," he reflected. "I don't know if other fighters think that way. Maybe they're a bit more tame. The way my mind works... when you're in the ring, it's a dangerous thing. Anything can happen."
He maintained a chillingly pragmatic perspective, adding, "You hope your opponent leaves the ring safely, but if they don't, you still have to go to bed knowing you just did your job. It wasn't personal."
The bout, which is set to earn Joshua a purse between $40 and $70 million, has been criticised by some as a threat to boxing's integrity. Joshua, however, rebuffed the idea that he is endangering the sport by facing the YouTube star-turned-boxer. "It's OK that I am supposed to have the weight of boxing's credibility on my shoulders. It's another challenge I want to meet," he asserted.
For Joshua, the event is about more than a record payday. "This is not all about the money for me... I want to show the world my proper boxing skills," he declared.
Paul's retort and future ambitions
Jake Paul, never one to shy away from confrontation, hit back with a claim about his own impact on the sport. "No-one has done more for boxing lately than me by disrupting the old game," Paul stated.
He also stirred the pot further by declaring his readiness to replace Joshua in a future megafight against Tyson Fury should he pull off a monumental upset. The Gypsy King himself has predicted a Paul victory.
Despite the high stakes and enormous financial reward, Joshua insisted his career would not be over even if he suffered one of the biggest shocks in sporting history. "That's not going to happen," he said, "but even if it did I would dust myself down and come back again as I'm doing now after losing to Daniel Dubois. I would still be a player in this game."
The star-spangled showdown is scheduled for this Friday night, promising global attention and a seismic moment for the business of boxing.
