The stark physical difference between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul has been officially quantified, setting the stage for their seismic professional boxing clash this Friday. At Thursday's official weigh-in in Miami, former two-time world heavyweight champion Joshua tipped the scales at 243.4lb (110.4kg), while YouTube star-turned-boxer Paul came in at 216.4lb (98.1kg).
The Official Numbers and Fight Rules
The weigh-in confirmed a significant 27lb (12.2kg) weight advantage for the Briton. A specific rule for this bout capped Joshua's weight at 245lb for the Thursday check, a stipulation discussed by Paul's business partner, Nakisa Bidarian, in November. Bidarian, CEO of Most Valuable Promotions, told The Independent the limit was related to Paul's safety, noting, "I just didn't want him to come in at 265lb, right?" He clarified there is no rehydration clause, meaning Joshua is free to add weight before Friday's first bell at the Kaseya Center.
The fight is scheduled for eight three-minute rounds and is a fully professional contest. The result will go on each man's official record, knockouts are permitted, and both will wear standard 10oz gloves. Joshua, 36, last fought in September 2024, suffering a stoppage defeat to Daniel Dubois. Paul, 28, whose last bout was a decision win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in June, enters with a 12-1 (7 KOs) professional record. Joshua's record stands at 28-4 (25 KOs).
Pre-Fight Mind Games and Physical Disparities
In the build-up, Paul has been defiant, claiming to be a better boxer than the Olympic gold medalist and vowing a knockout in the later rounds. Joshua, meanwhile, sparked controversy this week by stating, "If I can kill you, I will kill you." He later clarified the comments, saying, "That's my job, we fight. We have a licence to kill. Many people don't understand it, but this is what my job is."
Beyond the weight, other physical metrics favour the experienced heavyweight. Joshua stands at 6ft 6in (1.98m) with an 82in (208.3cm) reach, compared to Paul's 6ft 1in (1.85m) height and 76in (193cm) reach. This fight marks Paul's second venture into the heavyweight division, following his points victory over a 58-year-old Mike Tyson in November 2024.
What This Means for Fight Night
The confirmed statistics underscore the unique nature of this crossover event. Joshua will carry significant size and power into the ring, while Paul will rely on the speed and conditioning developed fighting predominantly at cruiserweight. The weight clause suggests Paul's team sought some mitigation against Joshua's natural mass, but the former champion's ability to rehydrate means the gap on fight night could be even more pronounced.
All eyes will now be on Miami to see if Jake Paul can overcome one of the most daunting physical challenges in sport, or if Anthony Joshua will reassert his elite-level pedigree in what has been described as a "strange but seismic" heavyweight encounter.
