Jake Paul has predicted he will score a knockout victory over former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in their upcoming boxing match, forecasting the fight will end in the fifth or sixth round.
Paul, the YouTuber-turned-professional boxer, is scheduled to face Joshua in a high-profile bout next Friday at the Kaseya Center in Miami, a contest that drew attention after original plans to fight WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis fell through. The matchup represents a significant step up in competition for Paul, whose professional boxing record includes 13 fights with seven knockout wins and just a single loss.
“I don’t think he can knock me out because he’s not going to be able to line up his shots properly to be able to land the hard punch,” Paul said on The Pat McAfee Show, as noted by MMA Fighting. “I think it’s going to be a very tough fight for multiple rounds, but then when I figure out his pacing, his style, his speed, his footwork, he’s going to get a little bit tired trying to chase me around and then I’m going to set up the shot. I’m not going to say exactly what, but I see what it is and I think it will end in the fifth or sixth round.”
Paul has adjusted his training regimen significantly since Joshua replaced Davis on short notice, placing greater emphasis on strength work and sparring with heavyweight partners to prepare for the size and power differential. He described sparring with large-framed fighters as challenging, even noting his nose had been moved slightly during preparation.
Joshua, a former world heavyweight champion with 25 knockouts in his 28 wins, enters the bout as a considerable favorite, and many observers have questioned Paul’s chances against an opponent with elite boxing credentials and significant power. Despite this, Paul’s confidence in his strategy and preparation reflects his belief that speed and endurance could play to his advantage inside the ring.
As fight week approaches, attention continues to grow around the unconventional matchup, with both sides and boxing fans weighing the competitive and promotional stakes of the bout.
