Anthony Joshua has made it clear that he will not hold back against Jake Paul and emphasized that only a knockout victory will satisfy his aggressive intent.
The former heavyweight champion is set to face YouTuber Paul in what is expected to be a one-sided match in Miami on December 19, with Joshua reportedly earning up to £70 million for what is anticipated to be an exhibition-like bout for the Olympic gold medalist.
Joshua, who disclosed that he will be trained by Oleksandr Usyk’s team for the fight, acknowledged that only an early stoppage will meet his expectations. “Simply defeating him is not enough for me; I must knock him out,” he stated.
“I intend to inflict significant damage on him physically. I am determined to demonstrate my superior skills and will continue to do so until I retire from the sport. My objective is to execute my game plan effectively. I seek to cause him harm; I aim to truly hurt him in the ring,” Joshua added.
“I will press forward and assert my dominance. I will deliver powerful blows and unveil certain boxing techniques that may be unfamiliar to him. I will introduce him to a different level of boxing that he has not encountered before.”
Joshua also acknowledged Paul’s commitment to the sport, noting his opponent’s 13 professional fights since debuting in 2020. “Jake is a dedicated fighter. Consider this: when I began boxing, I walked into the gym with my cousin, expressed my belief that I could succeed; three years later, I competed in the Olympics,” Joshua explained.
“He has been involved in this sport for five years. After three years, I was considered the underdog, with no one believing in me. You should never underestimate anyone.”
Meanwhile, Paul expressed his willingness to go to great lengths to achieve what he believes would be the most significant upset in boxing history. “Nobody ever imagined this scenario when I first entered the boxing world,” he remarked.
“People doubt my chances of winning, but they should prepare to be surprised. I am confident in my power and timing. It is the unexpected punches that make a difference, and I am a skilled knockout artist; he needs to be cautious. I predict a knockout in the fourth or fifth round. I am prepared to give my all to win this fight.”