MIAMI – Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua kicked off their fight week by both promising their highly anticipated clash this Friday ends inside the distance.
The contest that airs live on Netflix from Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, pits the former two-time heavyweight titlist Joshua against the former YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul. A baffling concept considering Paul’s best win is a coin toss between a washed up Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr or a 58 year old Mike Tyson, but in he steps with one of the most dangerous heavyweights in the world.
“Jake Paul you’ve got some big balls,” said Joshua following displaying his new skills under new trainer Egor Holub at the public workouts. “I’ve got to give him respect for taking this fight because I’m fucking ready. It’s go time.”
The 2012 Olympic gold medalist Joshua looked fleet-footed and displayed impressive movement under Holub, the trainer of two-time undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. Joshua, who will be fighting in the away corner for the first time in his career, then took the opportunity to praise his promoter and Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn who was also in attendance.
“MVP, shoutout to them, they’ve done an amazing job,” Joshua said. “But I’m going to let you into a little secret – There is no one better than Matchroom Boxing. I just tell the truth.”
There are doubts over Joshua and his chin following Daniel Dubois’ five round demolition job of him back last September. The heavyweight promised that the bout would conclude with a knockout – but he didn’t say which fighter that would be.
“What do you wanna see?” Joshua asked the crowd. “They want to see some big, heavy punches thrown and someone get knocked out. I’m going to deliver.”
The home fighter, and promoter of the event, Paul then made his walk to the ring to show the Miami crowd his skills ahead of Friday. Paul pounded away at the pads, displaying his power, and was in agreement with Joshua that the bout would not be going the scheduled distance.
“Yeah one of us is going to sleep,” Paul admitted. “That’s what we’re going to do here. That’s what this heavyweight fight is all about. I started my boxing journey here in Miami and we’re bringing it back. I’m going to shock the world and pull off the biggest upset in sport’s history.”
The opportunity to fight Joshua on this stage has not come overnight for Paul. Once a young boy featuring on the Disney Channel, he has dedicated his life to boxing over the past five years, and, although many won’t care to admit, has undoubtedly cemented himself as one of the sport’s biggest stars. Paul most certainly improved leaps and bounds from the man who bowled over AnEson Gib in 2020, however, many still believe, and rightly so, that the challenge of Joshua is several steps too far.
“It’s a testament to hard work, every single day dedicating yourself to a craft, pushing through when you don’t want to be there,” Paul said. “It all pays off in the long run. Believing in yourself and setting goals that people think are impossible. That’s really what my story is all about and I hope to inspire kids at home. I set these goals, everyone laughs at them, but then I’m the one laughing in the end.
“At the end of the day, I’m a kid with a big heart that wants to change the world. A disrupter that never took no for an answer. I’m just chasing my dreams, having fun, and living the American dream really.”
And Paul’s final message ahead of the monumental task on Friday night?
“Believe. Witness. Believe. Witness. It’s about to go down,” said Paul.
Tom Ivers is a lifelong fight fan and former amateur boxer who has a master’s degree in sports journalism. He had his first bout in 2013 and spent the majority of his career at the Salisbury Amateur Boxing Club in Liverpool, England, where he won two regional titles. Tom joined BoxingScene in 2024 and is now a key part of the UK and social media teams. You can reach him @tomosivers on X and Instagram.
