Former two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has pledged to dismantle and defeat Jake Paul when the two meet on December 19 at the Kaseya Centre in Miami.
Joshua, who enters the eight-round Netflix showdown as a strong betting favourite at over minus-1000, vowed to control the fight from start to finish.
“I’m going to break his face. I am going to break his body up. I’m going to stomp all over him. That’s my fighter’s mentality,” Joshua declared during a recent press conference.
“I’m going to come forward, impose myself, land heavy punches and expose him to certain tricks in boxing that he may not have seen yet. I am going to bring him to another school of boxing that I don’t think he’s been exposed to yet.”
Even with his fierce predictions, Joshua noted that Paul’s discipline and commitment should not be underestimated.
“I see talent, focus, he puts in the work, has a good team—nothing negative. I take it seriously. He has a conqueror’s mentality. His mentality is solid,” he said.
Joshua, boasting a 28-4 record with 25 knockouts, has gone 6-4 since 2019 and has not stepped into the ring since a crushing fifth-round stoppage defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024.
Paul enters the bout with a 12-1 record and seven knockouts.
Joshua is anticipated to return in February following the Paul fight, with the possibility of pursuing a major matchup against Tyson Fury later in the year if he emerges victorious.
“It’s a great opportunity for me to announce myself as a dominant figure once again. I want to be up just as much as people want to see me down. I’m hungry, devoted and dedicated,” Joshua said.