Nigerian-born British boxing star Anthony Joshua is in a demanding race against time. He must shed significant weight before his highly anticipated clash with Jake Paul in Miami on December 19.
The Unforeseen Weight Stipulation
A surprising condition has been placed on Joshua: he must weigh no more than 245 pounds. The 36-year-old former world champion currently hovers around 265 pounds. This means he needs to cut approximately 20 pounds in under three weeks for the fight to proceed as planned.
This requirement has stunned many fans. They are accustomed to seeing Joshua compete comfortably at his natural heavyweight stature.
Hearn Sheds Light on Negotiations
His promoter, Eddie Hearn, offered more details during an interview with BBC 5 Live. “I spoke to [Joshua], and he was sitting at 265 pounds or something like that,” Hearn stated. “I think I told Nakisa that he was 290 pounds or something like that.”
Hearn initially resisted altering the fight terms. He explained, “I said I’m not interested in balloon gloves and two-minute rounds, but they said it was a real fight.” He inquired about the number of rounds, and eight rounds were agreed upon.
The crucial condition then emerged. “They said: ‘The only thing is that Jake will weigh about 220 pounds, and we want AJ to come down in weight.’” Hearn added, “He’s a heavyweight and hasn’t cut weight before. They said: ‘Look, we’re not being funny, and it’s not that we need an advantage, but we need you to have some disadvantage.’”
Joshua’s Determination and High Stakes
Despite this significant demand, Joshua appears fully prepared to embrace the challenge. The stakes are incredibly high for this contest. According to the Daily Mail, the prize pot for the fight is an astonishing £140 million. Both fighters are set to earn up to £70 million each.
Joshua is taking the occasion very seriously. He has even brought in his former rival, Oleksandr Usyk, to assist with his preparations.
Pre-Fight Glimpse and Bold Intentions
The fighters met face-to-face in Miami shortly after the announcement. This encounter offered a clear visual of their contrasting physiques. Joshua notably towered over Paul.
This physical difference has fueled expectations. Many predict a dominant performance and a potentially brief bout from the Nigerian-born British heavyweight.
Joshua has made his intentions very clear. “It’s not a win for me if I just beat him; I need to knock him out,” he declared. “I’m going to break his face and break his body. I’m here to prove I’m the better fighter and will do that until I stop fighting. I’m going to go in there and do a job. I want to hurt him; I’m going to want to really hurt him in the ring.”
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