YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul showed his “delirious optimism” on Friday ahead of facing former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in December, who he believes he can beat against all odds.
“I like to compare myself with the best. We are going to war, and the strongest man will win,” the American responded at a promotional event, when asked if he was “losing his mind.”
Meanwhile Paul won against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in June, and the success of a year ago against the almost sixty-year-old legend Mike Tyson in a highly criticized fight, many experts do not give him a shadow of a chance against the British boxer Joshua, twice the undisputed champion in the main categories.
The December 19 match in Miami could be “the last day of the world” for the popular videographer, said David Haye, himself a former world champion. Meanwhile, the British Boxing Federation confirmed that they would not allow this confrontation for security reasons.
“It’s crazy until it’s not anymore”
The reason is that apart from experience, Paul, 28 years old, gives a distance of around fifteen centimeters to Joshua who is also heavier, takes advantage of better reach and comes with 28 wins (25 KOs) with 4 defeats.
Jake Paul, for his part, has a record of 12 successes (7 KOs) to one setback.
“I got to where I am today thanks to my delusional optimism. It’s crazy until it’s no longer crazy (…). Nobody ever thought it was possible, that we would be here, when I started boxing, and nobody thought I would win. So, join the list and prepare to be surprised,” said the internet star.
Anthony Joshua, 36, for his part promised “respect” to his opponent, whose “strong” mentality he praised. While planning to destroy it.
The highly profitable fight was broadcast on Netflix
“Honestly, I will break his face, I will destroy his body, I will trample him,” the former heavyweight champion warned, explaining that he trains with the current king of the category, Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk.
“That’s my mentality, the mentality of a fighter. I’m here to compete. I’m here to prove that I’m the best fighter,” added Joshua, who has not entered the ring since the knockout defeat he suffered against Daniel Dubois in September 2024.
The event, which will be broadcast on Netflix like the Paul-Tyson fight, should be hugely profitable for both men, with $184 million to be split according to estimates from several media outlets.
