Anthony Joshua has issued a chilling warning to Jake Paul ahead of their December 19, 2025, heavyweight showdown at Miami’s Kaseya Center: “I’m going to stomp all over him, break his face, and break his body up.” The 35-year-old former two-time unified heavyweight champion pulled no punches at the press conference, declaring his fighter’s mentality to “really want to hurt him.” While Joshua stopped short of dismissing Paul’s ability outright—conceding the YouTuber-turned-boxer is a “serious fighter”—the 6ft 6in Olympian’s imposing frame and experience (28-4, 25 KOs) contrast sharply with Paul’s novice status (12-1, 7 KOs), making this eight-round bout a lucrative spectacle laced with controversy. With a reported $184 million (£140 million) purse split evenly, Joshua’s return after his September 2024 knockout loss to Daniel Dubois could be a payday or a risk to his legacy.
Key Fight Details
- Date: Friday, December 19, 2025 (early Saturday UK time)
- Venue: Kaseya Center, Miami (20,000 capacity)
- Broadcast: Netflix (global live stream; first pro boxing post-Tyson vs Paul)
- Format: 8 rounds x 3 minutes; 10oz regulation gloves
- Weight Rules: Heavyweight; Joshua capped at 245lbs (111kg); Paul expected ~227-230lbs
- Purse: $92m (£70m) each (50/50 split)
- Odds: Joshua -1400 favorite; Paul +750 (Bet365, November 20)
Joshua’s vow signals intent beyond the payday, but Paul’s taunts—claiming Tommy Fury and Ryan Garcia “scared”—keep the hype alive.
Joshua’s Vow: “Stomp All Over Him” in Heavyweight Return
The presser crackled with tension: Joshua, in black tracksuit, stared down Paul across a table littered with microphones. “I’m here to prove I’m better,” Joshua declared. “Stomp all over him—that’s fighter mentality. Break his face, body—hurt him.”
Paul, smirking in red, predicted KO in rounds 4-5: “Fun—want him to cut me up. End AJ train; Fury next year.”
Staredown: Joshua’s 6ft 6in tower over Paul’s 6ft 1in—visual mismatch. Respectful—no shoves—but disdain simmered.
Joshua, post-Dubois (fifth-round KO, fourth defeat): “12 months realigned—vision board trimmed. Moving 100mph blinkers on—now here.”
Training shift: Usyk’s camp post-Dubois; parted Davison. “Strategic—regain peak.”
Paul: “Serious fighter? AJ concedes—torch passed.”
Paul’s Rise: From Disney to “Problem Child”
Paul (28, 12-1): Disney Channel (Bizaardvark 2016-18); boxing debut 2018 vs Deji Olatunji (KO1). Record: 7 KOs vs MMA/crossovers (Anderson Silva, Nate Diaz, Mike Perry); Fury UD loss 2023.
Heavyweight: Tyson UD (2024, 14oz gloves). Chavez Jr UD (June 2025).
Paul: “Beat AJ—doubts gone. Crawford next?”
Promoter Nakisa Bidarian: “Career-defining—Jake shows progress; AJ ends Paul era or risks legacy.”
Stipulations and Safety Concerns
8 x 3-min rounds; 10oz gloves—no headgear. Joshua: 245lbs cap (usual 250+); Paul ~227lbs.
Bidarian: “Not reckless—Jake better positioned than many bouts. AJ big/slow—vulnerable to movement.”
Bunce (BBC): “Ridiculous—Paul novice. But £36.9m+ for AJ? Understandable payday.”
Safety: Paul “willing to die”—coarse. Joshua: “No mercy—serious.”
Florida Commission: Pro record; UK banned (BBBofC mismatch).
Expert Debate: Lucrative or Legacy Risk?
Bunce: “Circus—Paul cruiserweight novice. AJ 6in taller, 4st heavier; Olympic champ. But can’t deny payday.”
Bidarian: “Sanctionable—biggest 2025 event. AJ ends Jake train or tarnishes.”
Hearn: “Ballsy—finds out hard.”
Warren: “Damages legacy—mismatch.”
Frampton: “Can’t blame—money talks.”
Precedents: Fury-Ngannou (2023 split); Joshua-Ngannou (2024 R2 KO).
Bunce: “Ngannou ‘untouchable’—sparked R2. Paul? Lord knows.”
Joshua’s Journey: From Glory to Gamble
Joshua (28-4): 2012 Olympic gold; unified champ (2018-21, 2022-24). Losses: Ruiz (2019), Usyk x2 (2021/22), Dubois (2024).
2025 return: “Mega show—records broken.”
Post-Paul: Fury 2026?
Hearn: “Beyond? What doing?”
Verdict: Payday Power Move or Legacy Low?
Joshua vs Paul: Financial bonanza ($92m each)—smart recovery. Sporting merit? Mismatch; Paul’s movement/power surprise?
Joshua: “Stomp over—better fighter.”
Paul: “Doubts disappear—Fury next.”
December 19: Miami magic or mayhem? Boxing’s boldest bet.
