Boxing enthusiasts have unleashed a wave of criticism against Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul following what many are calling an "embarrassing" first face-off before their highly-anticipated December showdown.
Social Media Erupts Over Size Disparity
The dramatic difference in physical stature between the two fighters became immediately apparent when they squared off during their recent press conference. Joshua, standing five inches taller and weighing 50 pounds more than Paul, with an additional six-inch reach advantage, made the YouTube-turned-boxer appear significantly outsized.
Fans quickly took to social media platforms to express their disbelief at the mismatch. One spectator commented: "This has to be a joke," while another bluntly stated: "This is so embarrassing." The comparison between the experienced heavyweight champion and his social media star opponent drew particular attention, with one observer noting: "Anthony Joshua makes Jake look like a baby."
Many fight followers viewed the upcoming bout as a straightforward payday for Joshua, with one fan speculating: "Easiest payday of AJ's career if it happens."
Fight Details and Fighter Preparations
The scheduled professional contest will take place on December 19 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. Despite the vast experience gap between the two combatants, the bout will be officially classified as a professional fight. The match is set for eight three-minute rounds with standard 10oz gloves.
Joshua, who hasn't fought since his knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois in 2024, will enter the ring after a 15-month absence. The former two-time heavyweight champion appears determined to make a strong comeback, expressing aggressive intentions toward his opponent.
"I'm going to break his face and break his body up, and I'm going to stomp all over him, that's my mentality," Joshua declared. "I'm here to compete and I'm here to prove I'm the better fighter and will do that until I stop fighting."
In a significant training change, Joshua confirmed he won't be working with Ben Davison for this fight. Instead, he's collaborating with Oleksandr Usyk's team in Spain, noting that London proved too distracting for his preparation.
Paul's Bold Predictions and Future Plans
Despite being the clear underdog, Jake Paul remains confident about causing an upset. The 12-1 fighter believes his smaller stature could work to his advantage against the heavyweight veteran.
"He is one of the best heavyweights ever, but I believe fighting a smaller man is often harder for a heavyweight because of the speed difference, the footwork, the angles, the head being off-centre," Paul explained. "All that power is great, but I just have to avoid that one shot for eight rounds – and I believe I can do that."
Paul has already set his sights beyond Joshua, expressing ambitions to face Tyson Fury next year if he manages to defeat the British heavyweight. Drawing parallels to Joshua's previous upset loss to Andy Ruiz, Paul positioned himself as "Andy Ruiz 2.0" and promised to shock the boxing world.
The fight will be streamed exclusively on Netflix, marking another significant step in the streaming platform's expansion into live sports broadcasting.
