The High-Stakes Weight Battle Before the Bell
Former two-time heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua is facing an unexpected and gruelling challenge ahead of his blockbuster fight against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. While the bout itself is predicted to be a straightforward affair for the seasoned boxer, the preparation is anything but. Joshua is currently in a race against time to lose a significant amount of weight to meet a strict contractual stipulation.
The highly anticipated eight-round contest is scheduled for December 19 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, featuring three-minute rounds and 10oz gloves. The most surprising condition, however, is a 245lbs weight limit for the heavyweight clash. This presents a major hurdle for Joshua, who has consistently weighed over 250lbs in his last five fights.
Hearn's Negotiations and the Weighty Problem
With just over three weeks until fight night, Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, has revealed the scale of the task. The Brit is currently weighing around 265lbs, meaning he must shed 20lbs to make the limit. Hearn admitted that the situation could have been even more drastic if not for some strategic negotiating.
In a conversation with Most Valuable Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidarian, Hearn creatively inflated Joshua's weight to secure better terms for his fighter. 'I spoke to [Joshua] and he was sitting at 265 pounds or something like that. I think I told Nakisa that he was 290 pounds,' Hearn told BBC 5 Live.
He elaborated on the unusual request from Paul's camp, stating, 'They said: 'Look we're not being funny and it's not that we need an advantage but we need you to have some disadvantage.'' This admission highlights the unique dynamic of this crossover event, where the more experienced boxer is accepting handicaps.
A New Training Regime with an Unlikely Ally
In his quest to return to winning form after a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024, Joshua has made a significant change to his training setup. In a surprising move, he has turned to the team behind Oleksandr Usyk, the man who defeated him twice in 2021 and 2022.
'I was invited to train with Team Usyk,' Joshua confirmed. 'He's one of the best in the world, and it's not all down to him. It's also down to the team that's around him, so I've linked up with them and got a great insight.'
This collaboration demonstrates Joshua's commitment to evolving his approach, seeking wisdom from the camp of a tactical master who has previously bested him. The pair will evenly split a colossal £140 million prize pot, making this one of the most lucrative fights in British boxing history, adding immense pressure to an already demanding weight-cut and training camp.
