Paul: Joshua Made Mistake with Weight Limit

Jake Paul believes Anthony Joshua has made a critical strategic error. He claims Joshua made a mistake by agreeing to a strict weight limit for their upcoming heavyweight clash.

The two fighters will meet in the ring this Friday night in Miami. Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) holds a significant advantage in experience and natural size. However, he faces a unique stipulation: he must weigh in at 245 pounds.

This marks the first time in the British heavyweight’s career that he must adhere to a specific weight cap.

A Blessing or a Curse?

Despite the restriction, Joshua remains optimistic. In a face-to-face discussion with Paul (12-1, 7 KOs), he dismissed concerns about the cut. He described the challenge as a “blessing in disguise.”

“I have never had to make weight, never,” Joshua admitted. “I feel happy that this task was put upon me because I wouldn’t have pushed myself to get to a certain weight.”

However, Paul views the decision differently. The YouTuber-turned-boxer argues that by trimming down, Joshua is neutralizing his most dangerous weapon.

“I don’t agree with the decision on his behalf,” Paul stated. “He has taken away the best thing against me, which is his power.”

Paul noted that previous fights have shown a decrease in Joshua’s power when he fights lighter. He believes Joshua needs that extra “oomph” to be effective.

Skill Over Size

Beyond physical attributes, Paul made a bold claim. He asserted that his boxing IQ surpasses that of the former unified heavyweight champion.

“To me, the weight doesn’t matter. It’s skill which will win this fight,” Paul asserted. “I believe my skills are better than his. He’s a very basic fighter.”

Paul drew a comparison to Oleksandr Usyk, the technician who twice defeated Joshua. He suggests that this fight will follow a similar pattern. In his view, agility and technique will overcome brute force.

New Training Camp

In preparation for the bout, Joshua shifted his training camp to Spain. He is working with the same team that prepared Usyk for those victories. Paul acknowledged that this move was necessary.

“You definitely needed to change coaches, so I’m glad,” Paul remarked.

Paul concedes that Joshua possesses knockout power. However, he remains confident in his defensive ability.

“If you get caught, of course he’s going to defeat you. But I don’t believe he can land those punches,” Paul said. “He lands on the bigger guys who stand in front of him.”