Tensions boiled over at the final weigh-in ahead of Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul as the former heavyweight world champion forcefully pushed Paul’s fist away from his face and warned him: “Don’t touch me.”
The heated exchange took place on Thursday evening in Miami, just hours before their highly controversial heavyweight clash at the Kaseya Center. What was expected to be a routine face-off instead delivered another dramatic moment in a build-up already dominated by trash talk, bravado, and concerns over fighter safety.
Joshua Visibly Annoyed as Face-Off Turns Heated
Joshua, a two-time heavyweight world champion, stepped forward first and raised his fist toward Paul during the staredown. However, when the YouTuber-turned-boxer mirrored the gesture and brought his own fist close to Joshua’s face, the Briton immediately reacted.
Joshua swatted Paul’s hand away and firmly told him: “Don’t touch me.”
As Paul walked away, Joshua made a throat-slitting gesture, an action that drew attention given the Londoner’s controversial use of violent language earlier in the week. The incident added further fuel to a rivalry many critics believe should never have been sanctioned.
Despite the flashpoint, Joshua later attempted to calm the situation, insisting there was “mutual respect” between the two fighters.
Joshua: “I’ll Outclass This Kid”
Speaking after the weigh-in, Joshua dismissed the idea that the exchange rattled him and instead focused on the task ahead.
“I’ll just outclass this kid,” Joshua said.
“I’m a serious fighter. That’s the difference. I’m a serious, serious fighter.”
Joshua, 36, enters the bout with a record of 28 wins and four defeats, including 13 heavyweight world title fights. By contrast, Paul has fought just 13 professional bouts, winning 12 and losing once, and has never competed at world championship level.
Paul Continues Verbal Attacks
Jake Paul showed no signs of backing down, continuing to taunt Joshua as the two crossed paths again during media interviews.
“He’s top heavy. Look at those legs. Chicken legs,” Paul said, as Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn laughed off the comments.
“I smell fear. The pressure is on him. This is a lose-lose situation for him.”
Paul claimed he was fighting without pressure and insisted he had already won the psychological battle.
Significant Weight Difference Highlights Experience Gap
Although heavyweights are not usually required to make weight, Joshua was contractually obligated to weigh in under 17st 7lb (111kg), a stipulation that underlined the vast experience gap between the two fighters.
- Anthony Joshua: 17st 5lb (110kg)
- Jake Paul: 15st 7lb (98kg)
Joshua was nearly two stone heavier, reinforcing concerns about the physical mismatch. Paul was the heaviest he has ever weighed in, three pounds heavier than for his fight against Mike Tyson last year.
Paul has primarily competed at cruiserweight, while Joshua has faced elite heavyweight opponents throughout his career, including Oleksandr Usyk.
Paul’s Bizarre Weigh-In Tirade
Earlier in the day, at a media-only weigh-in at the Fontainebleau Hotel, Paul delivered an animated and confusing outburst after stepping off the scales.
“Do you know who I am? I am him,” Paul shouted, eyes wide, gesturing wildly at reporters.
The display drew mixed reactions and added to the sense that the event has blurred the line between elite sport and entertainment spectacle.
Undercard Spotlight: Caroline Dubois Makes Statement
Also on the card, Caroline Dubois successfully made weight for her WBC lightweight world title defence against Italy’s Camilla Panatta.
Both fighters came in one pound under the 9st 9lb (61kg) limit, with Dubois looking confident and composed.
“I said I was going to break her and that’s exactly what I’m going to do,” Dubois said after the face-off.
The unbeaten 24-year-old is making her debut under Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), the promotional company co-founded by Jake Paul. The bout will be broadcast globally on Netflix, offering huge exposure to women’s boxing thanks to the platform’s subscriber base of over 300 million users worldwide.
All Eyes on Fight Night
The next time Joshua and Paul lock eyes will be inside the ring on Friday night. The bout, scheduled for eight rounds, has split opinion across the boxing world — with critics calling it reckless and supporters arguing it brings new audiences to the sport.
What is certain is that the weigh-in confrontation has heightened anticipation, ensuring one of the most talked-about fights of the year will unfold under intense scrutiny.
Leave a Reply