If Jake Paul thought he was levelling the playing field for his showdown vs Anthony Joshua, looks like he was wrong.
The Youtuber turned boxer will take on the biggest test of his career – quite literally – on Friday December 19 when he faces two-time world heavyweight champion Joshua in Miami.
Jake has never fought a bona fide heavyweight yet – we can discount Mike Tyson due to the fact he was 58 years old and completely shot (who knew) when the pair met in Texas in late 2024.
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Paul (12-1) has gone in a heartbeat from preparing to face 5ft 5ins, 135lbs Gervonta Davis in an exhibition (that was cancelled) to a 6ft 6ins knockout monster who walks around at 265lbs. Absolutely wild.
Weight clause
Now if you think Jake is crazy for taking this fight, and many do, he at least tried – apparently – to put a clause in the contract which would help him. Problem is, we are not sure it does.
The clause says that Joshua (28-4) must weigh no more than 245lbs (17st 7lbs) when the fighters officially weigh in on Thursday December 18. He can weigh whatever he likes when they finally get in the ring together the night after.
The fly in the ointment for Jake is that 245 is not an issue at all for AJ – and he has already got down to that number as he posted a chilling update (for the Paul camp) on Thursday afternoon.
Joshua showed a picture of himself standing on the scales which showed the figure 110.6kg – that corresponds to 243.8lbs. He accompanied it with the caption: “They must have forgot. I’m used to dealing with big weights and scales.”
If Jake’s team had looked at the numbers from previous AJ fights they would have noted that he was less than 245lbs for his rematch vs Oleksandr Usyk just three years ago. It’s not like it’s a huge change, or effort, for him.
Joshua vs Jake rules
The other main rules for this fight also do Jake no favours whatsoever. Incredibly it is an actual, sanctioned heavyweight contest, and not an exhibition. We cannot see a way it ends well for ‘The Problem Child’.
The bout will take place over 8 x 3-minute rounds and both men will wear 10oz gloves. Ouch, and ouch again.
Not surprisingly Joshua is a heavy favourite, but not heavy enough in our opinion. He’s around the 1/9 mark with Paul only 6/1. Maybe add a zero to that…
Either way, it looks like this fight – wild or not – is actually going to happen. We are just two weeks away, and maybe for Jake, it is becoming all too real.
There is a lot at stake for Joshua
Anybody who thinks AJ will just take it easy on Paul and they will dance for eight rounds, should consider a couple of very salient points here.
- Joshua was destroyed by Daniel Dubois in his last outing in September 2024. He needs to show he can get back to the heavyweight elite again one day. Looking terrible against Jake would do just the opposite.
- Joshua has a massive nine-figure Saudi deal on the table for 2026, which includes a fight in February followed by (hopefully) that Tyson Fury blockbuster in September.
This is no time for gimmicks or playing around. AJ needs to do what he did to Francis Ngannou back in early 2024. Deal with a ‘crossover’ opponent in the most brutal of fashion. Anything else is likely to be seen as a failure and an embarrassment.
AJ, over to you.
