Jake Paul, Anthony Joshua Tip the Scales Ahead of Netflix Heavyweight Spectacle in Miami
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 19 Dec 2025
The physical disparity between Jake Paul and former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua was impossible to miss at Thursday’s official weigh-in, as the unlikely pair finalized preparations for their blockbuster heavyweight clash at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida on Friday, Dec. 19 (Saturday morning in Manila), a fight set to stream globally on Netflix.
Paul tipped the scales at 216.6 pounds, lighter than his 227-pound weight during his November 2024 win over Mike Tyson. Joshua, meanwhile, stepped in at 243.4 pounds, safely under the contracted 245-pound limit.
Joshua (28-4-0, 25KOs), the seasoned former champion with multiple world titles on his résumé, came in every bit the imposing heavyweight, outweighing Paul by a significant margin and immediately reinforcing the perception that this bout pits experience and elite pedigree against ambition and spectacle. Calm and composed on the scale, Joshua looked every inch the professional prizefighter, drawing confident reactions from the crowd as he stared down his much less experienced opponent.
Paul (12-1-0, 12KOs), meanwhile, appeared leaner and noticeably smaller but exuded his usual bravado. The YouTuber-turned-boxer has made a career of defying expectations, and despite the stark size gap, he maintained that speed, youth, and self-belief would help bridge the difference on fight night. Paul has steadily climbed in weight over recent years, and this contest marks his most ambitious leap yet—both in terms of opponent quality and physical challenge.
The fight has generated enormous buzz not only because of the size mismatch, but also because of what it represents: a collision between boxing’s traditional elite and the modern influencer-driven fight economy. For Joshua, 36, the bout is seen as an opportunity to remain active, command a massive global audience, and reassert his dominance against a far less proven foe. For Paul, who turns 29 next month, it is the ultimate gamble—stepping into the ring with a former world champion who has shared the ring with the division’s very best.
Security was tight and the atmosphere electric as both fighters completed the final formality without incident. With the weigh-in now complete, attention turns to fight night in Miami, where questions of power, durability, and legitimacy will finally be answered inside the ring.
Whether it ends as a routine night’s work for Joshua or a stunning upset that reshapes the sport’s modern narrative, Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua has already succeeded in one regard: it has captured the boxing world’s full attention.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
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