Influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul faces a monumental task on Dec. 19 when he takes on Olympic gold medalist and former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in Miami, Florida.
As expected, Paul will enter the fight at Kaseya Center as a considerable betting underdog. It’s a position he’s grown comfortable being in.
“I’ve been the underdog my whole life. I’ve had to fight for everything that I’ve gotten. Earned my position all the time. I’ve honestly had some of my best performances coming in as an underdog. And I don’t really look at the betting lines and all who’s this favorite, who’s that, because to me none of that matters. I know what I’m capable of and the work that I’ve put in,” Paul said in a face-to-face interview with Joshua promoting the fight
Joshua, a sizable heavyweight who stands 6’6″, cut weight for the match. It’s the first time in his career that he’s shed pounds for a fight. Paul believes the decision was a mistake.
“I don’t agree with the decision on his behalf. He’s taking away his biggest thing against me, which is his power. And we’ve seen him a little bit lighter and there’s not as much thump on the punches, and I think the best thing he could have had is that extra oomph in those punches,” Paul said.
“But it’s his game plan, whatever he wants. But to me, the weight doesn’t matter. The weight’s not going to make a difference. It’s going to be the skills that win fight, and I believe my skills are better than his which is a crazy thing to say but he’s a very basic fighter. He’s gotten where he’s at because of the size and because of the power. The skills are what’s going to win this fight. You saw that when [Oleksandr] Usyk fought him. I believe it’s going to be very similar to that.”
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“He’s been doing it for a long time. He’s great, and if you get caught with that one punch, or obviously he has a lot of power punches. If you get caught, of course he’s going to defeat you. But I don’t believe he can land those punches, and he lands them on the bigger, slower guys who are sitting right in front of him,” continued Paul.
“Everyone’s like, ‘Did you see Francis Ngannou, what he did to Francis Ngannou?’ It’s like the guy’s feet stuck in mud. He’s just sitting there, didn’t do anything, and just got f*cking nailed with a big ass shot. So yeah, if I get hit with that shot, I’m screwed. But I don’t believe he’s going to hit me with those shots.”
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