Jake Paul is set to face a mandatory two-month suspension from boxing if, as many predict, he is knocked out by former world champion Anthony Joshua in their heavily scrutinised bout tonight.
The Stakes and The Suspension
The professional fight, scheduled for eight three-minute rounds with standard 10oz gloves, takes place at the Kaseya Center in Miami. Should Paul suffer a knockout loss, the Florida Athletic Commission will impose an automatic 60-day medical suspension. This ban could be extended further depending on the severity of the stoppage, though a quick return to the ring is unlikely to be on Paul's agenda regardless.
Weigh-In Reveals Significant Disparity
Thursday's official weigh-in highlighted the physical mismatch between the two fighters. Anthony Joshua, the former two-time unified heavyweight champion, scaled 243.4lbs (17st 5lbs). This was notably lighter than the 252.5lbs he registered for his fight against Daniel Dubois in September 2024.
Jake Paul, who has operated primarily at cruiserweight since transitioning from social media stardom, weighed in at 216.6lbs (15st 6lbs). This results in a substantial weight advantage of 26.8lbs (nearly 2 stone) for the British powerhouse.
Conflicting Pre-Fight Mindsets
Despite being a significant underdog, Jake Paul remains defiantly confident. He has drawn inspiration from the biblical story of David and Goliath, telling ESPN: "There's a split-second moment where Goliath draws back his arrow, and that's when David can hit him. I believe the same thing will happen here. There's going to be a moment when Joshua is exposed, and I know I have the power to be able to beat him."
Anthony Joshua, however, has projected a calm, professional demeanour focused on dominance. He stated his intention to "outclass this kid," emphasising, "I'm a serious fighter, that's the difference, I'm a serious, serious fighter."
Joshua also sparked controversy this week with stark comments about the nature of his profession. He claimed he could "kill" Paul in the ring, later elaborating: "It's my job, we fight. We have a licence to kill... I'm sure many people don't understand it but this is what my job is. That's just what the mentality we have to have as fighters."
The fight has been met with criticism from boxing purists, given Paul's record built against mixed martial artists and ageing legends, contrasting sharply with Joshua's elite-level pedigree. All eyes will now be on Miami to see if Paul can engineer a historic upset or if Joshua will enforce the predicted knockout that triggers an immediate boxing ban for the YouTube star.
