After agreeing to fight at heavyweight for just the second time in his professional career, Jake Paul is at a significant weight disadvantage heading into Friday’s bout with Anthony Joshua.
Paul tipped the scales at 216.6 pounds during the official weigh-in on Thursday, 26.8 pounds lighter than Joshua. He is also five inches smaller with a reach six inches shorter than the former unified heavyweight champion.
The Paul-Joshua bout came together late after Jake’s previously scheduled match on Nov. 14 with Gervonta Davis was canceled.
Two weeks after the Davis bout was scrapped, Netflix officially announced that Paul and Joshua would square off at Kaseya Center in Miami on Dec. 19. The two agreed to fight at heavyweight.
Paul has primarily fought as a cruiserweight (up to 200 pounds) throughout his career, but his memorable matchup with Mike Tyson in November 2024 was fought at heavyweight.
While that was a heavyweight bout, the gap between the two fighters wasn’t nearly as pronounced as it is this time. Paul was significantly heavier (227.2 pounds) going into the Tyson fight than he is this time.
Joshua is entering the bout nine pounds lighter than he did in his last fight against Daniel Dubois in September 2024. AJ lost that match via fifth-round knockout, snapping his four-fight winning streak.
The 36-year-old Joshua is 6-4 in his last 10 bouts after starting his professional career with 22 consecutive wins.
Paul is 12-1 as a professional boxer, with his lone defeat coming via split decision against Tommy Fury in February 2023.
Netflix will stream the Paul-Joshua event on Friday starting at 8 p.m. ET.