Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul will battle in a professionally sanctioned essential occasion on December 19 in Miami, Florida.
The controversial contest was confirmed as we speak by Most Beneficial Promotions and Netflix, and follows on from Paul’s exhibition vs Gervonta Davis being pulled.
Studies counsel that the battle will likely be eight rounds with ten ounce gloves, although there’s one restriction for the big-punching Brit that’s unparalleled for heavyweights.
Talking on Sky Sports activities when breaking the information, MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian revealed that Joshua should not weigh in above 245lbs — quite a few which he final noticed on the scales in his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk in 2022.
“So there’s a variety of discussions across the weight. Joshua fought Usyk twice. Each of these instances Usyk was 221 kilos, Joshua was 240-245. When Jake fought Mike Tyson final yr [he was] 227 kilos. I count on Jake will are available in anyplace between 225 and 230, and Anthony Joshua has a weight restrict of 245 kilos.”
Joshua weighed in at 244.5lbs when he was crushed for a second time by the Ukrainian nice. In his fights since, he has been over 250lbs constantly, with a excessive of 255 and, most just lately, 252 when dealing with Daniel Dubois in August of 2024 in what would change into the fourth lack of his profession. A catchweight for a heavyweight bout is a weird idea, however so is that this contest basically.
On the controversy that the battle will likely be met with, Bidarian mentioned that it’s comparable, or an enchancment in his eyes, to ‘AJ’s win over Francis Ngannou again in 2024.
“I might say it’s a lot much less of a mismatch than what you noticed with AJ and Francis Ngannou — a large man however comparatively no boxing expertise. I might say it’s a lot much less of a mismatch than AJ’s ninth or tenth battle in opposition to guys who’d been knocked out 20-25 instances, given AJ’s pedigree. Jake is constructed for the massive moments. Do I feel it’s harmful for Jake Paul? Completely. Do I feel it’s additionally harmful for Anthony Joshua? 100%.”
Ngannou turned down the chance to face Paul just lately, calling it an insult.
Joshua and Paul will come face-to-face this Friday at a launch press convention.
