Anthony Joshua has declared his intention not to show mercy to Jake Paul, emphasizing that only a knockout victory will satisfy his competitive drive for aggression. The former heavyweight champion is set to face the YouTuber in what is expected to be a one-sided bout in Miami on December 19, with Joshua earning a substantial sum of up to £70 million for what is essentially anticipated to be a sparring exhibition given his Olympic champion status.
Joshua, who disclosed that he will be under the tutelage of Oleksandr Usyk’s team for the fight, acknowledged that a swift finish is imperative. He insisted, “Simply defeating him won’t be enough for me; I must secure a knockout.” Expressing his determination, he stated, “I aim to inflict damage on him both facially and physically. I am focused on demonstrating my superiority in the ring and will continue to do so until I retire. My objective is to execute my task decisively. I intend to cause him harm; I will genuinely seek to hurt him during the match.”
Additionally, Joshua paid tribute to his opponent, recognizing Paul’s professional experience with 13 fights since his debut in 2020. Joshua remarked, “Jake is a formidable opponent. Consider this: when I first entered the boxing realm, I walked into the gym with my cousin, declaring, ‘I can do this;’ three years later, I competed in the Olympics.” He added, “He has been dedicated to this sport for five years. It took me three years to transition from an underdog to an Olympic contender; no one believed in me. One should never underestimate anyone.”
Meanwhile, Paul expressed his readiness to make significant sacrifices to achieve what he believes would be the greatest upset in boxing history. Asserting his confidence, Paul said, “Initially, no one envisioned this scenario when I started my boxing journey.” He continued, “The majority doubt my chances of winning, but prepare to be astonished. I trust in my power and timing. It’s the unexpected strikes that pose the greatest threat, and I am a crafty knockout specialist; he must exercise caution. I predict a knockout in the fourth or fifth round. I am prepared to go to extreme lengths to secure victory in this match.”