Anthony Joshua has made it clear that he will not go easy on Jake Paul and declared that only a knockout victory will satisfy his desire for aggression. The former heavyweight champion is set to face the YouTuber in a mismatched bout in Miami on December 19, where Joshua stands to earn up to £70 million for what is expected to be a one-sided contest favoring the Olympic champion.
Joshua, who disclosed that he will be trained by Oleksandr Usyk’s team for the fight, acknowledged that only an early stoppage will suffice. He emphasized the importance of not just defeating Paul but knocking him out to secure a true victory. “It’s not enough for me to simply beat him; I need to deliver a knockout blow,” Joshua stated.
“I intend to inflict damage on him physically and mentally. I am determined to demonstrate my superior skills and will continue to do so until the fight ends. My goal is to enter the ring and execute my strategy. I aim to cause him harm; I want to truly hurt him during our bout,” Joshua affirmed.
“I plan to be aggressive and assert my dominance. I will land powerful punches and unveil techniques in boxing that he may not have encountered before. I will introduce him to a different level of boxing that he may not have experienced yet.”
Joshua also showed respect for his opponent, acknowledging Paul’s professional experience with 13 fights since his debut in 2020. “Jake is a legitimate fighter. Consider this: when I started boxing, I walked into the gym with my cousin, believed in myself, and three years later, I competed in the Olympics,” Joshua reflected.
“He has been in this sport for five years. After three years, I was the underdog, with nobody supporting me. You cannot underestimate anyone.”
On the other hand, Paul expressed his willingness to go to extreme lengths to achieve what could be considered the biggest upset in boxing history. “No one ever imagined this scenario when I first entered the boxing world,” Paul remarked.
“People doubt my chances of winning, but they should be prepared to be surprised. I possess the power and timing required. It’s the unexpected punches that are most effective, and I am a crafty knockout artist; he needs to be cautious. I predict a knockout in the fourth or fifth round. I am prepared to go to any lengths to win this fight.”
