Anthony Joshua vowed to inflict meaningful damage on Jake Paul, stating he intends to “break” the american boxer, but acknowledged Paul as a “serious fighter” ahead of their December 19th heavyweight clash.
The highly anticipated bout, scheduled for Miami’s Kaseya Center, pits the former two-time unified heavyweight champion, Joshua, 35, against the YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul in a contest widely viewed as a significant mismatch. The fight represents a pivotal moment for Paul’s boxing career, testing his skills against a seasoned professional, while Joshua aims to reassert his dominance after recent setbacks. A win for Paul would be a monumental upset, further legitimizing his transition to the sport, while a Joshua victory would reaffirm his standing in the heavyweight division.
“I’m going to break his face and break his body up. I’m here to prove I’m the better fighter,” Joshua declared. “I’ll stomp all over him. That’s a fighter’s mentality. I’m going to really want to hurt him. That’s what I want to do.”
Despite the aggressive rhetoric, the face-to-face promotional event saw a surprisingly respectful exchange between the two fighters, deviating from Paul’s typically theatrical approach. paul, however, redirected criticism towards Francis Ngannou, labeling him “a joke” after Ngannou declined a fight offer.
Paul also claimed offers for the December fight were extended to Tommy Fury and Ryan garcia, both of whom he said were “scared.” He further announced that a fight with pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford is agreed upon for next year.
Joshua also targeted Tyson Fury, Tommy’s brother, dismissing a £1m bet Fury proposed on a paul victory. “I’m just here to fight. I’ll get the job done, collect my cheque and that’s it,” Joshua stated.
In a surprising assessment, Joshua went on to say, “[Paul] is better then Tyson Fury – he’s actually sitting here. I give him credit for that.”
