Anthony Joshua, the Nigerian-born British boxer, is officially ready for his high-profile fight against Jake Paul. He weighed in at 110.6kg (17st 7lb) for their Miami clash. The fight is scheduled for December 19.
The two-time heavyweight world champion faces an uncommon weight restriction for this six-round contest. He must not exceed 111kg. This limit is unusual for a heavyweight, a division where fighters rarely need to cut weight.
Joshua appeared confident in a short social media clip. He nodded decisively at the scales’ reading. He then addressed viewers, stating: “They must have forgotten. I’m used to dealing with big weights and scales.”
The fight has garnered significant attention. This is partly due to its “circus feel” and the vast experience gap. Paul, 28, transitioned to boxing from YouTube. He has primarily competed at cruiserweight. His heaviest recorded weight was 16st 3lb. This was during his fight against Mike Tyson last year.
In stark contrast, Anthony Joshua has built a formidable career. He boasts an Olympic gold medal and two world heavyweight titles. He has consistently competed against the elite fighters in his division.
Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, clarified the specifics of the weight agreement. Paul’s team initially requested an even lower limit. Both sides ultimately agreed on the 111kg maximum. Both fighters will use standard 10-oz gloves.
Oleksandr Usyk Weighs In on the Matchup
Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk shared his strong opinions on the upcoming bout. He firmly believes Joshua possesses the capability to dominate Paul. Usyk told Boxing Scene: “If Anthony Joshua wants, he will kill this guy.”
Usyk emphasized Joshua’s distinguished boxing background. He stated, “Anthony Joshua is an Olympic champion first.” He then drew a clear distinction between the two fighters. “Jake Paul, yeah, a sportsman, a YouTuber, a showman. Joshua is Rolls-Royce; Jake is a Fiat.”
He playfully added, “Yes, I will pray for Jake Paul. Because I want to fight with Jake Paul in the octagon.”
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