Jake Paul isn’t walking into Friday night quietly.
Hours before stepping into the ring against former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in Miami, Paul declared to ESPN that a victory wouldn’t just be an upset—it would be something far bigger.
“This would be biblical,” Paul said, framing the fight as “reimagining David beating Goliath.”
Paul has leaned heavily into that metaphor throughout fight week, describing his matchup with Joshua as a moment defined by timing, belief, and opportunity. He says he’s spent time studying the biblical story, not for theatrics, but for strategy.
“There’s a split-second moment where Goliath draws back his arrow, and that’s when David can hit him,” Paul said. “I believe the same thing will happen here. There’s going to be a moment when Joshua is exposed, and I know I have the power to be able to beat him.”
While much of the attention around Paul has focused on his right hand, he’s been clear that his development as a boxer goes deeper than one punch. Paul says fans will see noticeable growth in his overall skill set when the fight begins.
“You’ll definitely see a lot more skill in my boxing,” Paul said. “I don’t think I’m going to have the highest punch output for this fight.”
Instead, Paul believes efficiency will matter more than volume. He described his jab as the foundation of his offense and said it’s the punch that allows everything else to follow. That confidence extends to how he sees the fight ending.
“I think I end up knocking him out in the fourth or fifth round,” Paul said.
Joshua, meanwhile, has heard the predictions—and the criticism that followed his decision to take the fight—but he’s not engaging with either. The two-time heavyweight champion has been questioned by boxing purists who argue the matchup undermines the sport or puts his legacy at risk.
Joshua’s response has been consistent and direct.
“I don’t need to understand them,” he said of his critics. “They need to understand me. They need to come and sit down with me and listen.”
Joshua has framed the bout as an opportunity on multiple levels, from staying active to gaining valuable ring time without rushing back into another high-risk heavyweight clash. He’s also made it clear that this isn’t a novelty appearance.
“I haven’t slowed down my training because it’s Jake Paul,” Joshua said. “It’s been an actual training camp.”
Rather than focusing on public expectations of a quick finish, Joshua says his mindset is rooted in preparation and execution. “I need to do my best, I need to win,” he said. “I understand what my job is.”