Anthony Joshua has made it clear that he will not hold back in his upcoming fight against Jake Paul, expressing that only a knockout will satisfy his competitive drive. The former heavyweight world champion is set to face YouTuber Paul in a mismatched showdown in Miami on December 19, where Joshua stands to earn up to £70 million for what is expected to be a one-sided exhibition bout.
Joshua, who disclosed that he will be trained by Oleksandr Usyk’s team for the fight, emphasized that his goal is to secure a knockout victory. “Simply defeating him won’t be enough for me; I must knock him out,” he affirmed. He further stated, “I intend to inflict significant damage on him. I am determined to prove my superiority in the ring and will continue to do so until the fight concludes. My objective is to cause harm; I will relentlessly pursue that goal during the match.”
Acknowledging Paul’s experience with 13 professional fights since debuting in 2020, Joshua expressed respect for his opponent. “Jake is a formidable fighter. Consider this: when I started my boxing journey, I walked into the gym with my cousin, declaring, ‘I can do this;’ three years later, I competed in the Olympics,” he reflected. “He has been dedicated to this sport for five years. I was once the underdog after three years, facing skepticism. You should never underestimate anyone.”
On the other hand, Paul declared his readiness to make sacrifices for a chance at creating a monumental upset in boxing history. “No one could have envisioned us being here when I first started boxing,” he remarked. “The majority doubt my ability to win, so add your name to the list and brace yourself for a surprise. I trust in my power and timing. It’s the unexpected punches that make the difference, and I am a crafty knockout artist; he needs to be cautious. I anticipate a knockout in the fourth or fifth round. I am prepared to go to great lengths to emerge victorious in this battle.”