Anthony Joshua enters his crossover fight against Jake Paul on December 19 as the overwhelming favourite, but Paul insists he has already identified the Briton’s weakness.
The eight-round contest has been dismissed by many in the sport, while others view it as an opportunity for Joshua – a former two-time heavyweight champion – to expose Paul’s limitations. Between them they have 45 fights, but around 70 per cent belong to Joshua, who has mixed with elite heavyweights throughout his career. Paul, meanwhile, has boxed only faded MMA veterans and a 58-year-old Mike Tyson – whom he failed to stop.
That hasn’t dented Paul’s confidence. Speaking to Boxing Scene, the American explained what he believes will trouble Joshua at the Kaseya Center in Miami next month.
“I think it’s watching his [Daniel] Dubois fight, watching the [Andy] Ruiz fight, even watching the [Oleksandr] Usyk fight, and when you look at it, he’s lost to guys who are smaller than him. I think his weakness, his kryptonite, is the faster guys who don’t get hit by his big punches.”
Joshua stands 6ft 6ins tall; Dubois is 6ft 5ins, Usyk 6ft 3ins and Ruiz 6ft 2ins. Against that trio, ‘AJ’ lost four times and won once – the December 2019 rematch victory over Ruiz.
Paul added:
“I just think with speed and footwork and being in a rhythm, I don’t think he can handle that. He doesn’t like that because he is a little bit stiff. He does rely on his power. Obviously, you get hit by one of his shots, you’re cooked, but I believe I’ll be able to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.”
Jake Paul is taking confidence from Anthony Joshua's loss to 'smaller' fighters🤔
Is Paul on the same level as Ruiz, Usyk and Dubois?🥊#JakeJoshua pic.twitter.com/GlSbKE0I0x
— BoxingScene.com (@boxingscene) November 21, 2025
