TLDR
- Oleksandr Usyk believes Anthony Joshua could “kill” Jake Paul in their December 19th fight in Miami
- Usyk compared Joshua to a Rolls Royce and Paul to a Fiat, citing Joshua’s Olympic gold medal credentials
- There is a 52-pound weight difference between the fighters’ last respective weigh-ins, with Joshua being five inches taller
- Usyk says he wants to fight Jake Paul himself in an MMA octagon after the Joshua bout
- Usyk named Deontay Wilder as his preferred next boxing opponent
Oleksandr Usyk Warns Jake Paul Faces Serious Danger Against Anthony Joshua
Oleksandr Usyk has issued a stark warning about the upcoming fight between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua. The unified heavyweight champion believes his former opponent could seriously hurt the YouTuber-turned-boxer when they meet on December 19th in Miami.
Speaking at a recent media event, Usyk made his position clear about the matchup. He told reporters that if Joshua wants to, he could “kill this guy.” The Ukrainian fighter was direct in his assessment of the contest.
Usyk drew a comparison between the two fighters that highlighted the gap in their credentials. He described Joshua as a Rolls Royce and Paul as a Fiat. The heavyweight champion pointed to Joshua’s Olympic gold medal as a key distinction between the fighters.
“Anthony Joshua is Olympic champion, first,” Usyk explained. “Jake Paul is yeah, sportsman, YouTuber, yeah, showman.” He emphasized this was simply the truth rather than trying to favor one fighter over another.
Physical Differences Create Concern
The physical mismatch between Paul and Joshua has raised eyebrows in the boxing community. There is a 52-pound difference between their last respective fight weights. Joshua also stands five inches taller than Paul.
Usyk has personal experience fighting at different weight classes and against larger opponents. He moved up from cruiserweight to heavyweight during his career. The champion fought Joshua twice, spending 24 rounds in the ring with the British fighter across both contests.
This firsthand knowledge gives Usyk unique insight into what Paul will face. He became undisputed champion at cruiserweight before moving up to capture heavyweight gold. His success at both weights makes him qualified to assess the dangers of fighting bigger men.
Business and Future Plans
Usyk acknowledged that the Paul versus Joshua fight is primarily about business and money. The bout will be broadcast globally on Netflix. Paul began his professional boxing career in 2020, while Joshua won Olympic gold before turning professional.
The Ukrainian champion revealed he has his own interest in fighting Paul. Usyk stated he wants to face the YouTuber in an MMA octagon. He even said he would pray for Paul’s safety against Joshua because he hopes to fight him later.
For his next boxing match, Usyk has expressed interest in facing Deontay Wilder. He told Boxing King Media that the former WBC champion would be his first choice. Usyk praised Wilder as one of the great heavyweight fighters of the past decade.
Wilder returned to winning form earlier this year with a seventh-round stoppage of Tyrrell Herndon in June. This came after consecutive losses to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang. Usyk’s most recent fight saw him stop Daniel Dubois in the fifth round of their rematch in July.
The Paul versus Joshua fight takes place in Florida with massive global interest. Usyk faced off with Paul recently in what appeared to be promotion for a potential future MMA contest between them.
