Former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has delivered a chilling message to opponent Jake Paul, stating he would be willing to 'kill' the YouTuber-turned-boxer when they meet in the ring this Friday evening in Miami.
A Stark Warning in the Sunshine State
During fight week in Florida, Joshua flatly rejected any notion of showing mercy to his social media star opponent. He insisted the Netflix-billed contest at the Kaseya Center will be fought with full and brutal intent, dismissing online speculation that the bout could be staged.
The Brit, known for his polite public demeanour, said that persona would be completely abandoned on fight night. He framed the upcoming clash not as a crossover spectacle, but as a serious, do-or-die encounter.
"If I Can Kill You, I Will Kill You"
Joshua first set the aggressive tone during open workouts in Miami on Tuesday, addressing fans in the ring before speaking to media behind closed doors. "It has to be done," Joshua, known as AJ, declared. "Jake Paul, you've got some big balls and I've got to give him respect for taking the fight because I'm f***ing ready, it's go time… They want to see some big heavy punches thrown and they want to see someone knocked out, and I'm going to deliver."
He later escalated his rhetoric at a media roundtable. Asked if any part of him wanted to go easy on Paul, who is a severe underdog, Joshua replied: "Zero part of me." He explained the violent mindset required for his profession, separating it from his respectful upbringing.
"It's not just that it's Jake," he stated. "I was actually looking at myself today, I'm a very respectful guy brought up by a good family. But if I can kill you, I will kill you. That's just how I am and this is just the job I do, so let's go."
Paul's Defiant Response Under the Lights
In stark contrast, Jake Paul, the architect of the event, remained defiant. "I'm going to shock the world," said 'The Problem Child'. "One of us is going to sleep. Not me." Paul urged the crowd to "watch and believe," adding that his life is "about achieving what people tell me is impossible."
Joshua, who boasts 25 knockouts from 28 professional victories, sees himself as carrying the sport. "I'm carrying boxing on my back," he said, referencing his previous fight against Francis Ngannou. "I understand the expectation... I respect it."
With fight night looming, Joshua has left little doubt about his savage intentions as he prepares to face Paul under the Miami lights.
