The Anthony Joshua-Jake Paul weight disparity is absolutely massive

When Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua meet in the ring on Friday, Joshua will come in outweighing the YouTube personality turned boxer by about 27 pounds. 

Joshua was 243.4 pounds during Thursday’s official weigh-in for the bout taking place at Kaseya Center in Miami. That number nearly reaches the weight limit of 245 pounds that was stipulated in the fight contract. 

Paul weighed in at 216.4 pounds on Thursday.

The vast weight difference only adds to the pre-fight talking points, considering the large gap in skill sets between Paul and Joshua. 

Joshua, 36, is an Olympic super heavyweight champion and two-time unified heavyweight world champion, while standing as one of the top-ranked boxers in the world. 

The fight between Paul, 28, and Joshua was put together after Paul and Most Valuable Promotions moved on from a previously scheduled fight against WBA Lightweight Champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis, which was supposed to take place on Nov. 14. 

“He’s one of the best heavyweights ever — all of that power is great, and he’s knocked people out,” Paul told reporters during a press event promoting the bout against Joshua. “I just have to avoid that one shot for eight rounds, and I believe that I can do that… People say, ‘Oh, I respect Jake Paul for getting in there.’ No, respect me because I’m about to win.” 

Joshua said his strategy against Paul would be straightforward and that he would “impose myself, come forward and land heavy punches.”

“I’m going to make sure, expose him to certain tricks in boxing he may not have seen yet. I’m going to bring him to another school of boxing that I don’t think he’s been exposed to yet,” Joshua said. 

Friday’s fight will air on Netflix, and the main event ring walks are expected to take place around 10:30 p.m. ET.