Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul are set to collide in one of the most talked-about combat sports events of the year this Friday at Miami’s Kaseya Center.
Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul will meet this Friday at Miami’s Kaseya Center in one of the biggest Boxing event this year. The bout has attracted heavy criticism from boxing officials, promoters and former fighters, many of whom have questioned both the competitive balance and the safety of the matchup. Despite that, the fight has generated huge mainstream interest due to the stark contrast in experience, size and pedigree between the two men.
Joshua has been uncompromising in his pre-fight comments, making it clear that he intends to abandon his usual calm public image once the bell rings. With a reputation built on power and ruthless finishing, the former heavyweight champion has shifted the conversation away from spectacle and towards consequence. Anthony Joshua is also a heavy favourite to win by Knock Out against Jake Paul.
Current Betting Odds for Anthony Joshua to Knock Out Jake Paul
According to latest odds, Anthony Joshua is a heavy favourite to Knock Out Jake Paul. The 2-time heavyweight champion has an implied probability of a whooping 78% for the same.
| Method of Victory | Best Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Anthony Joshua by KO TKO or Disqualification | 2/7 | bet365 |
| Anthony Joshua by Decision or Technical Decision | 6/1 | SpreadEx |
| Jake Paul by KO TKO or Disqualification | 16/1 | SpreadEx |
| Jake Paul by Decision or Technical Decision | 20/1 | BetMGM UK |
| Draw | 33/1 | Sporting Index |
Odds last updated at 12PM, Wednesday 17th December.
7bet Sportsbook
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has been clear in his assessment of how the fight could unfold.
“If he gets brave, it will all be over quickly,” Hearn said. “But if he is boxing on the back foot and trying to tie him up and jab and move, then he might last a couple of rounds.”
What is Anthony Joshua’s Knockout Record?
Joshua’s reputation as a finisher is well established. Across 28 professional victories, he has recorded 25 knockouts, giving him one of the highest stoppage rates among elite heavyweights of his era.
His knockout wins have come against proven contenders such as Charles Martin, Dominic Breazeale, Eric Molina, Joseph Parker and Kubrat Pulev. These were not crossover athletes or exhibition opponents, but ranked professionals competing at world level.
By contrast, Jake Paul has built his professional record largely against former UFC fighters and older crossover opponents. While he is currently on a six-fight winning run and has shown clear improvement, his only defeat came against Tommy Fury in 2023, the only established boxer he has faced.
Former world heavyweight champion David Haye has been particularly blunt in his assessment, warning that the bout could be Paul’s “last day on earth” if things go wrong.
Expert Predictions: Will Anthony Joshua KO Jake Paul?
The majority of expert opinion points toward a Joshua stoppage, with concerns centred on the gulf in power, size and experience.
Former world champion Amir Khan highlighted the danger Paul faces if Joshua lands clean.
“AJ can bang,” Khan said. “He’s a former world champion. He’s got power, size, everything. If he lands clean, the damage he can do is scary. Especially when he is landing it on someone like Jake Paul. He’s not capable of taking that sort of power.”
Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping echoed those sentiments, stressing that the narrative of an upset is unrealistic.
“Joshua’s got way more experience. He hits harder. He’s the bigger man. He’s got the longer reach. He’s an Olympic champion,” Bisping said. “Jake Paul is not going to go out there and turn this into a real-life David and Goliath. That’s not going to happen, and everybody knows that.”
Even Oleksandr Usyk, the man who twice defeated Joshua, weighed in with a stark warning.
“If Anthony Joshua wants, he will kill this guy,” Usyk said when asked about the matchup.
British heavyweight Derek Chisora also dismissed the idea of Joshua taking a cautious approach.
“AJ took a year out, easy fight for him, and I think it should be laid to rest,” Chisora said. “I don’t think AJ’s going to go in there and try and pat him.”
Who is the Betting Favourite in Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua?
Latest odds favour Anthony Joshua to win against Jake Paul with an implied win probability of 89%. Jake Paul is a massive underdog in this fight and has an implied win probability of only around 10%.
| To Win | Best Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Anthony Joshua | 1/8 | AK Bets |
| Jake Paul | 17/2 | AK Bets |
| Draw | 33/1 | SpreadEx |
Odds last updated at 12PM, Wednesday 17th December.
What are the fight rules for Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul?
This is a professional fight sanctioned by the Florida Athletic Commission. The fight will have three, eight-minute rounds and each boxer will weat 10oz gloves, as is the standard for a heavyweight fight.
Knockouts are permitted for this match.
The fight will be a heavyweight bout. Jake Paul will be making his second appearance at heavyweight. Joshua cannot weigh more than 17st 7lb (111kg) on the day of the weigh-in.
