Jake Paul has been offered the chance to spar a two-weight world champion ahead of his clash with Anthony Joshua on December 19.
The YouTuber-turned-boxer was originally supposed to face Gervonta Davis on November 14, but the exhibition was pulled after the WBA lightweight champion was named in a civil lawsuit regarding domestic allegations.
Paul was gearing up to meet ‘Tank’ at a catchweight of 195lbs, but must now pile on the pounds as he prepares for a controversial showdown with former two-time world champion Joshua.
It was announced this week that the pair will lock horns in an eight-round professional heavyweight contest at the Kaseya Center, Miami, with the event being streamed live on Netflix.
Not only that, but Joshua, whose last outing saw him suffer a fifth-round stoppage defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2025, is reportedly compelled to keep below a weight limit of 245lbs.
The 36-year-old, however, is nonetheless considered an almighty favourite against Paul, who went eight rounds with a 58-year-old Mike Tyson last year.
Hoping to help the boxing novice prepare for his formidable challenge, though, is former cruiserweight world champion Lawrence Okolie, who has previously sparred Joshua.
Now campaigning up at heavyweight, Okolie believes that he offers the right body dimensions and physical attributes to replicate Joshua’s style behind closed doors, as he told media members during a roundtable that he wishes to find out exactly what Paul is made of.
“It’s crazy. I wanna go and help Jake Paul – give him a chance. I want him to have at least a little feeling of what it’s like to be in there with a world-class heavyweight.
“I want to know what it is that’s allowed Jake Paul to say to himself, ‘I’m going to get in there with a 250-pound muscleman from England. This big, towering guy – Olympic gold [medallist], former two-time heavyweight world champion – in front of millions of fans on Netflix.’
“I need to know. Maybe he’s got a secret that I don’t know, but I want to know before the fight.”
The Joshua vs. Paul fight has received a mixed reaction from the boxing world, with heavyweight contender Moses Itauma one who has delivered a damning verdict.
