Anthony Joshua declared his intent not to go easy on Jake Paul and emphasized that only a knockout will fulfill his desire for aggression. The former heavyweight champion is set to face YouTuber Paul in what is expected to be a one-sided contest in Miami on December 19, with Joshua earning up to £70 million for what is essentially a high-profile sparring match. Joshua, who will be coached by Oleksandr Usyk’s team for the fight, insisted that a swift finish is the only acceptable outcome, stating, “It’s not enough for me to just win; I must knock him out.”
“I aim to inflict damage on him both facially and physically. I am determined to demonstrate my superiority as a fighter and will continue to do so as long as I compete. I am going into the ring to execute a job. My goal is to cause harm; I genuinely want to inflict significant damage on him during the bout,” Joshua added.
“I plan to advance aggressively and assert myself. I will land powerful blows and introduce him to certain boxing strategies that may be unfamiliar to him. I intend to expose him to a different level of boxing that he has yet to experience.”
Acknowledging Paul’s 13 professional fights since his debut in 2020, Joshua paid tribute to his opponent, recognizing Paul as a serious fighter. “Jake is a legitimate fighter. Consider this: when I started boxing, I walked into the gym with my cousin, claiming, ‘I can do this;’ three years later, I was at the Olympics,” Joshua remarked.
“He has been in the boxing scene for five years. Three years into my journey, I was the underdog, with no one believing in me. You should never underestimate anyone.”
In contrast, Paul expressed his readiness to make the ultimate sacrifice to achieve what he believes would be the greatest upset in boxing history. “Nobody ever imagined we would reach this point when I first entered the boxing world,” Paul stated.
“Many doubt my ability to win, so add yourself to the list and prepare to be surprised. I am confident in my power and timing. It’s the unexpected shots that are most dangerous, and I am a crafty knockout specialist; he needs to proceed with caution. I predict a knockout in the fourth or fifth round. I am prepared to go to any lengths to secure victory in this fight.”