Former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has issued a chilling warning to YouTube star-turned-boxer Jake Paul ahead of their highly anticipated bout this Friday. Joshua has declared there will be absolutely no mercy shown inside the ring when they meet at the Kaseya Center in Miami, in a fight that will be streamed globally on Netflix.
"If I Can Kill You, I Will Kill You": Joshua's Stark Warning
Speaking during open workouts in Miami on Tuesday, Anthony Joshua shed his famously calm and polite exterior. He addressed the crowd with brutal honesty about his intentions for the fight night. Joshua explicitly stated that his respectful persona will be left outside the ring once the bell rings.
"It has to be done. Jake Paul, you’ve got some big balls and I’ve got to give him respect for taking the fight because I’m ready, it’s go time," Joshua declared. He emphasized that fans are expecting a dramatic finish. "They want to see some big heavy punches thrown and they want to see someone knocked out, and I’m going to deliver."
In a later media roundtable, when asked if any part of him considered going easy on the smaller, less experienced Paul, his answer was unequivocal: "Zero part of me." He elaborated with a stark metaphor: "I’m a very respectful guy... But if I can kill you, I will kill you. That’s just how I am and this is just the job I do."
More Than Entertainment: A Mission to Uphold Boxing
Joshua framed this fight as a serious contest and a critical part of his final pursuit of boxing glory. He strongly rejected any online rumors suggesting the fight could be fixed, insisting on its legitimacy. With a formidable record of 25 knockouts in 28 professional wins, Joshua has promised a decisive ending fueled by heavy punches.
He sees himself as carrying the responsibility of the sport on his shoulders. "I’m carrying boxing on my back, I did it with the Francis Ngannou fight and I’m doing it again," Joshua explained. He acknowledged the massive expectations surrounding the event, stating that while the pressure he puts on himself is enough, he understands and respects what the fans demand: a genuine, powerful display of boxing.
Respect, But No Sympathy for the Challenger
While Anthony Joshua gives Jake Paul credit for having the courage to step into the ring with him, he makes a clear distinction. Paul deserves respect for taking the challenge, but not an ounce of sympathy once the fight begins. Joshua believes Friday night will transcend the spectacle and bold talk that Jake Paul is known for, and will instead be about real power and real consequences.
The stage is set for a clash of narratives at the Kaseya Center. For Jake Paul, it's another step in his disruptive boxing journey. For Anthony Joshua, it's a necessary, serious step on his path back to the top, and a promise to deliver the knockout prowess that made him a champion.
