Las Vegas: Jake Paul has declared that he has “no fear” and believes he will “shock the world” when he steps into the ring against former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua on Friday night.
The highly anticipated bout will take place at Miami’s Kaseya Center and represents the toughest challenge of Paul’s professional boxing career. The fight has been officially sanctioned as an eight-round heavyweight contest, with both fighters wearing 10-ounce gloves.
Paul Faces Biggest Test of His Career
Paul, widely known as “The Problem Child,” was initially scheduled to face Gervonta Davis on November 14, but that matchup was cancelled following new domestic abuse allegations against the WBA lightweight champion. The fight against Joshua was subsequently arranged, dramatically raising the stakes.
Most of Paul’s boxing victories have come against former MMA fighters and aging opponents, including Mike Tyson, who was 58 years old when they fought last November. The clash with Joshua will mark just Paul’s second professional appearance at heavyweight.
Paul last fought in May, defeating Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. via a 10-round unanimous decision in a cruiserweight bout.
Speaking ahead of the fight, Paul expressed unwavering confidence in his ability to pull off a major upset, stating that he intends to become the “king of boxing” by beating Joshua on the global stage.
Anthony Joshua Returns After Long Layoff
Anthony Joshua, meanwhile, will be returning to the ring after more than a year away. His most recent outing came in September 2024, when he suffered a defeat to Daniel Dubois, a bout in which he also sustained injuries.
Despite criticism surrounding the legitimacy of the matchup, Joshua has brushed off concerns, saying the fight’s ability to generate conversation is what matters most.
“I’m not worried about what people think about the integrity side,” Joshua said. “I’m more worried about whether they’re talking. That’s the whole point of this fight—it creates conversation.”
Massive Purse Claims Spark Debate
Reports initially suggested the fight purse would total $184 million, split evenly between the two fighters. However, Paul later claimed on social media that the bout is worth as much as $267 million, though no evidence has been presented to support the figure.
As fight night approaches, debate continues to swirl around whether Paul can truly compete with an elite heavyweight—or if Joshua will remind the YouTuber-turned-boxer of the harsh realities of the division.
