Oleksandr Usyk has issued a stark warning about Jake Paul ahead of his December 19 fight with Anthony Joshua in Miami, suggesting the YouTuber-turned-boxer could be in serious danger.
The former undisputed heavyweight champion, who has gone the distance with Joshua in two punishing bouts, highlighted the enormous gap in size and experience between the fighters. Latest weigh-ins show Joshua outweighs Paul by 52 pounds and stands five inches taller, a difference Usyk says could prove decisive.
“If Anthony Joshua wants, he will kill this guy,” Usyk told Boxing Scene.
Usyk also drew a sharp contrast between Joshua’s decorated career and Paul’s rapid rise. “Anthony Joshua is an Olympic champion, first. Jake Paul, yeah, a sportsman, a YouTuber, a showman. Joshua is Rolls-Royce; Jake is a Fiat. Listen, it’s true. It’s just true… Yes, I will pray for Jake Paul. Because I want to fight with Jake Paul in the octagon,” he added.
Usyk, who has often faced bigger opponents himself, knows the challenges of moving up in weight. After dominating the cruiserweight division, he stepped into heavyweight and became an undisputed champion twice, often giving away size and weight. Still, he emphasized that Paul’s path is nothing like his own. Before turning professional in 2020, Paul had only one amateur white-collar bout, while Joshua had already won Olympic gold and held unified heavyweight titles.
Recently, Usyk met Paul in what appeared to be a playful tease of a potential MMA fight, though any future plans depend on Paul surviving what many expect to be the toughest night of his career at the Kaseya Centre. Paul enters with a 12-1 record, mostly against aging or limited opponents, with his only loss coming to Tommy Fury in 2024.
