Joshua makes weight for €100m Paul fight

File: Anthony Joshua

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Two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is on weight for his heavyweight fight with Jake Paul, with just two weeks to go until the highly anticipated bout in Miami.

The Briton fights the YouTuber-turned-boxer on December 19 in a six-round contest that has generated significant interest due to the weight and experience disparity between the fighters.

Joshua, 36, cannot weigh more than 17st 7lb (111kg) for the contest. Posting a video on social media, Joshua showed he was 110.6kg as he stepped on the scales, indicating he is on track to make the weight easily.

“They must have forgot. I’m used to dealing with big weights and scales,” Joshua said.

The weight discrepancy is a big talking point, with 28-year-old Paul operating mostly at cruiserweight for much of his boxing career while Joshua is a two-time heavyweight world champion.

Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, said Paul’s team wanted the Watford fighter to weigh in even lighter before they agreed on 17st 7lb (111kg). Heavyweights traditionally don’t cut any weight. Paul’s heaviest weight was 16st 3lb (103kg) for his fight against Mike Tyson last year.

Both fighters will wear regulation 10oz gloves.

Former undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has expressed genuine concern for Paul ahead of the fight, warning that the British-Nigerian boxer could “kill” the YouTuber-turned-boxer.

The Ukrainian, who has gone 24 rounds with Joshua across two fights without ever being beaten, believes the size and experience difference between the two fighters could prove catastrophic for Paul.

“If Anthony Joshua wants, he will kill this guy,” Usyk told Boxing Scene. “Listen, a lot of questions, blah, blah, blah… Anthony Joshua is an Olympic champion first. Jake Paul, yeah, a sportsman, a YouTuber, a showman. Joshua is Rolls-Royce; Jake is a Fiat.”

“Yes, I will pray (for) Jake Paul. Because I want to fight with Jake Paul in the octagon,” Usyk added.

There is a staggering 52lb difference between their last recorded fight weights, and Joshua also has a five-inch height advantage over the American.

Paul holds a 12-1 professional record built mostly against limited or faded opposition, with his only defeat coming against Tommy Fury in 2023.

Peter, who has been covering sports for PUNCH for close to two years, focuses on combat sports reporting, special features and human angle stories

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