Anthony Joshua has made it clear that he will not go easy on Jake Paul and expressed that only a knockout will satisfy his desire for aggression.
The former heavyweight champion is set to face YouTuber Paul in what is expected to be a one-sided matchup in Miami on December 19, with Joshua reportedly earning up to £70 million for the bout, which is anticipated to be a showcase for the Olympic champion.
Joshua, who will be trained by Oleksandr Usyk’s team for the fight, acknowledged that only an early stoppage will meet his standards. “It’s not enough for me to just defeat him; I must knock him out,” he emphasized.
“I intend to inflict damage on his face and body. I aim to demonstrate my superiority as a fighter and will continue to do so for as long as I compete. I am focused on executing my task. I want to cause harm; I am determined to inflict significant damage on him in the ring.”
“I will press forward and assert myself. I will deliver powerful blows and introduce him to certain boxing techniques that he may not have encountered before. I will expose him to a different level of boxing that he may not have experienced yet.”
Joshua also showed respect for his opponent, recognizing Paul’s 13 professional fights since his debut in 2020. “Jake is a legitimate fighter. Consider this: when I started in boxing, I walked into the gym with my cousin, declaring, ‘I can do this;’ three years later, I was at the Olympics,” he remarked.
“He has been in this sport for five years. Three years into my journey, I was the underdog, with no one believing in me. You should never underestimate anyone.”
Meanwhile, Paul expressed his readiness to make any sacrifice necessary to achieve what he believes would be the greatest upset in boxing history. “No one ever imagined this scenario when I first entered the boxing world,” he stated.
“Nobody believes I can win, so add me to the list of surprises. I know I possess the power and precision. It’s the unexpected shots that land, and I am a crafty knockout artist; he needs to be cautious. I predict a fourth or fifth-round knockout. I am prepared to give everything to win this fight.”