I’ve spent a week with Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul -this could be a huge upset

Coming into fight week I thought I knew exactly how the Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua narrative would look.

On paper AJ should wipe the floor with the overwhelming underdog, but after spending the week watching them up close at open workouts, press conferences, and face-offs, I have a very different feeling about the dynamic of this fight.

Speaking to David Haye about the fight summed up the entire week perfectly. He was brutally honest about who he thinks will win and who he wants to win.

Haye believes Anthony Joshua should get the job done, but he couldn’t ignore what’s happening around us. Everyone is dancing to Paul’s tune. Haye called The Problem Child a genius, and revealing his admiration for what he’s built and branding it the best thing to ever happen in boxing.

And then came the line that really stuck with me. Haye wouldn’t be shocked if by some miracle, Jake finds a way to win. Not because he’s the better boxer but because he’s mastered the moment, the business, and the chaos. In Haye’s eyes the American has already won the game outside the ring, and sometimes that’s where the fight is decided.

A big takeaway from this week has been listening to AJ explain why he took this fight. He’s been clear this wasn’t about the money it’s about exposure. He wants to truly break America.

That admission alone says a lot, as I assumed the US already knew him. He is recognised everywhere in the UK, but being here in the US has been eye-opening. Speaking to locals throughout the week it’s become clear that unless you actively follow boxing, AJ is largely unknown stateside.

Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua – all you need to know

Jake Paul is chasing a Christmas miracle when he takes on Anthony Joshua – and Metro will be with you for it all.

When is Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua?

The fight takes place on Friday 19 December in Miami, Florida. For UK fight fans, it will be a very early start in the early hours of Saturday morning with the main event expected at around 4am.

How can I watch Paul vs Joshua?

The fight and all the undercard action will be streamed exclusively on Netflix – available to all subscribers.

You can also follow the action with Metro’s LIVE fight blog with Charlie Barclay and Jack Vasey our men on the ground in Miami this week.

Latest Paul vs Joshua news and interviews

Can Jake Paul beat Anthony Joshua? Metro prediction

Anything can happen in heavyweight boxing. Except this.

Paul has done a magnificent job disrupting the sport and establishing himself as a golden ticket for so many fighters. In five years, he has improved his skillset and carries genuine knockout power in both fists.

But the chasm between him and two-time heavyweight champion Joshua is too great. The former Olympian is a devastating finisher once he smells blood and with so much on the line heading into 2026, anything less than a demolition job will be seen as a failure.

Paul on the other hand is instantly recognisable. You can feel it in the rooms, in the crowd reactions, and even in the energy at media events. This very much feels like Jake Paul’s show.

That feeling only grows when you see them together. AJ looks absolutely enormous in person.

He’s composed, serious, and operating with the same intensity he showed going into the Andy Ruiz rematch. There’s no wasted movement, no unnecessary interaction. His body language says he’s here for business and nothing else. It’s clear he sees this as a fight he must handle
properly regardless of the opponent or the noise around it.

Paul by contrast couldn’t be more different. He’s visibly smaller and stockier, but his attitude is fascinating. He dances around, jokes, and even flicked AJ’s nipple at the face-off which could’ve been the end right there for him. He leans fully into the chaos.

What surprised me most is how fearless he looks. Jake carries himself like the clear A-side, relaxed, confident and almost dismissive. It’s clear as day that Jake believes his truth that he can beat Joshua.

It’s as if he believes this is going to be easy and in many ways he’s acting like the veteran, not the novice stepping into the ring with a former two-time heavyweight champion.

That’s what makes this matchup so intriguing. Jake Paul owns the attention, the crowd, and the moment. Anthony Joshua owns the skill, the power, and the experience. One man is playing the game perfectly. The other is preparing to end it.

So who do I think will win? Honestly, my head says AJ. However my heart is believing more and more that this could be the biggest upset in sports history and Jake finds a way.

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