Jake Paul isn’t shying away from the challenge. As he prepares to face Anthony Joshua in Miami, he’s meeting the hype with a relentless stream of confidence, and a direct challenge to the former champion’s abilities. This Friday’s bout at The Kaseya Center represents the ultimate test of Paul’s boxing career, a leap into the arena with an Olympic gold medalist and two-time heavyweight champion.
Few give Paul a realistic chance of victory. He’s a significant underdog, a role he embraces with characteristic defiance. During a recent face-to-face interview, broadcast on his popular YouTube channel, Paul didn’t attempt to downplay the odds, but instead used them as motivation, framing himself as a perpetual fighter battling for respect.
“I’ve been the underdog my whole life,” Paul stated, his voice unwavering. “I’ve had to fight for everything I’ve gotten, earning my position every single time. I thrive when people doubt me, and I don’t pay attention to betting lines. I know what I’m capable of, and I’ve put in the work.”
While Paul leans into his outsider status, Joshua is making a surprising adjustment. The towering heavyweight has noticeably cut weight for this fight, a first in his professional career. This unexpected move hasn’t escaped Paul’s notice, who immediately questioned the wisdom of sacrificing power for a leaner physique.
“I disagree with that decision,” Paul asserted. “He’s diminishing his greatest strength – his power. We’ve seen him lighter, and the punches lack the same impact. That extra ‘oomph’ is what he needs against me.”
For Paul, the weight difference is a distraction. He believes skill, not size, will determine the outcome of the highly anticipated fight. This is where the verbal sparring intensified, with Paul delivering a provocative assessment of Joshua’s boxing prowess.
“The weight doesn’t matter,” Paul declared. “It’s going to be the skills that win this fight, and I believe my skills are better than his. It sounds crazy, but he’s a very basic fighter who has relied on size and power to get where he is.”
Paul pointed to Joshua’s recent defeats, specifically his losses to Oleksandr Usyk, as evidence. He argued that when Joshua’s raw power is neutralized, he struggles to adapt, predicting a similar scenario unfolding on Friday night.
Despite his confident pronouncements, Paul acknowledges the inherent danger Joshua poses. He understands the risk of facing a devastating punch, but believes his movement and strategy will keep him out of harm’s way. “If I get caught with that one punch, I’m screwed,” he admitted.
He continued, referencing Joshua’s previous fight, “Everyone’s talking about Francis Ngannou, but Ngannou was stationary, stuck in mud. I won’t be a stationary target. I don’t believe he’s going to hit me with those shots.”
Joshua, however, isn’t interested in a drawn-out affair. He made it clear during the interview that anything short of a knockout victory would be unacceptable. He needs a decisive win to silence his critics and reaffirm his dominance.
“100%,” Joshua stated emphatically. “I have to go in there, stomp all over him, inflict pain, and land that right hand he says is my only weapon.” The stakes are high, and both fighters are prepared to deliver a memorable night of boxing.
