MIAMI — In his most audacious move yet, YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul not only predicts a victory over two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua—he forecasts a seismic, fifth-round knockout that he claims will rival Buster Douglas’s legendary upset of Mike Tyson.
The scheduled eight-round bout, announced Friday for December 19 in Miami, has been met with skepticism from the boxing world. Unlike Paul’s previous opponents, who were often retired athletes from other sports, Joshua is an active, elite-level champion.
Yet Paul remains brashly confident. “I’m here to go out there and shock the world,” he said. “I’ve gotten to where I am today because of delusional optimism. No one thinks I’m going to win, so join the list and be ready to be shocked.”
The fight, which will be streamed on Netflix, represents a massive gamble for Paul’s brand. A decisive loss could halt his boxing credibility, but a competitive showing—let alone the knockout he promises—would redefine his place in the sport.
By James Kisoo
