Jake Paul has promised to knock out Anthony Joshua when the two meet for a sanctioned eight-round bout in Miami on December 19, and says he’s already setting his sights on a potential fight with Tyson Fury in 2026. The pair squared off at the end of their opening press conference, where Paul laid out his plan for beating the former world heavyweight champion.
Paul argued that facing a heavier opponent can be more difficult for the big man because a smaller fighter’s speed, angles and footwork create different problems. His game plan is to avoid the one big shot from Joshua across eight rounds, pick his shots, accumulate points and control the fight. He insisted he’s not just there to take a swing — he expects to win.
The matchup highlights a sharp contrast in size and experience. Paul comes in as a 12–1 pro with seven knockouts, campaigning around 200 lb (about 90.7 kg) as a cruiserweight. Joshua’s record stands at 28–4 with 25 knockouts, fighting closer to 245 lb (around 111 kg) as a heavyweight. Paul’s most recent victory was a unanimous decision over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.; Joshua last fought in September, when he was stopped by Daniel Dubois.
Joshua responded by warning against underestimating him. He described Paul as a serious fighter and said his focus is straightforward: cut Paul up, break him down and hurt him inside the ring. The former world champion has made notable changes to his camp ahead of the bout.
Joshua confirmed he has split with long-time trainer Ben Davison and is now training with the coaching group that supports current champion Oleksandr Usyk. He called the new setup challenging and useful for his preparation, but said he has not been sparring with Usyk, who has been in and out of his own training cycle.
Paul went beyond predicting victory, saying he plans to disrupt Matchroom Boxing’s plans and push for a high-profile fight with Tyson Fury next year. He framed his ambitions as a bid to upend the promoter’s schedule and compared his potential impact to past shock results in the heavyweight scene.
Safety concerns around the bout’s weight terms have been raised. Under the agreement Joshua must weigh in at 111 kg (245 lb) with no rehydration clause after the weigh-in, a condition that emphasizes the existing size difference. Joshua said he is concentrating on meeting that weight requirement and treating anything beyond it as a bonus.
The matchup carries obvious questions about style, size and risk, and both men have signaled they believe they can impose their game plan. With the December date set, attention will now turn to how both fighters prepare for the unusual pairing and whether Paul’s longer-term ambitions toward Fury become a realistic path in the coming years.