Published On: Thu, Dec 18th, 2025

Joshua weighs in nearly two stone heavier than Paul

A split picture of Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul
Two-time world champion Anthony Joshua (left) has won 28 professional bouts with four losses, while YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul has won 12 and lost one [BBC Sport]

Anthony Joshua weighed in almost two stone heavier than Jake Paul for Friday's controversial heavyweight bout as part of an unusual stipulation.

Heavyweights do not usually have to make weight, but Joshua was required to come in under 17st 7lb (111kg), reflecting the gulf in experience between the fighters.

He tipped the scales at 17st 5lb (110kg), with Paul weighing 15st 7lb (98kg).

The pair will contest a professional eight-round bout, using regulation 10oz gloves, at Miami's Kaseya Center.

A low-key official weigh-in, open only to the media, took place on Thursday morning in a conference room at the Fontainebleau Hotel. A ceremonial weigh-in is scheduled for Thursday evening at the Fillmore Miami Beach.

Paul stepped on the scales calmly before breaking into a brief, animated and somewhat confusing tirade.

"Do you know who I am? I am him," he shouted, eyes wide, as he gestured towards the assembled media.

It was Paul's heaviest recorded weight, 3lb more than for his fight against Mike Tyson last year.

Joshua, 36, was never expected to miss the limit, having posted a video on social media two weeks ago showing himself already on target.

However, when the Watford fighter did not arrive at the venue as scheduled, reporters were briefly left wondering whether there had been an issue.

Joshua eventually made a swift in-and-out appearance about an hour after Paul weighed in, looking trim and in shape. As he left the scales, he was asked by a reporter what his post-fight meal would be.

"Success," he replied.

The weight discrepancy has been a major talking point. Paul has operated largely at cruiserweight for much of his boxing career, while Joshua is a two-time heavyweight world champion.

Joshua has comfortably made similar weights before, including for both fights against generational great Oleksandr Usyk. At his heaviest, he was 18st 3lb (118kg) during his professional career.

Smiling Dubois makes weight for MVP debut

Briton Caroline Dubois smiled her way to the stage as she also made weight for her WBC lightweight world title defence against Italy's Camilla Panatta.

Dubois, 24, looked strong at the weight, with both fighters coming in one pound under the 9st 9lb (61kg) limit.

The Londoner has appeared to relish the spotlight during fight week, with her personality coming through at public events.

She was involved in a lively exchange with super-featherweight Alycia Baumgardner, who also features on the card, at Wednesday's news conference.

Dubois is unbeaten, with 11 wins and one draw, and this contest marks her first appearance under Paul's Most Valuable Promotions, which has invested heavily in women's boxing.

Long considered one of the future faces of the sport, Dubois now steps on to the global stage, with the event being broadcast on Netflix.

The platform's worldwide subscriber base of more than 300 million offers significant exposure, particularly for fighters on the undercard.

Caroline Dubois with Nakisa Bidarian
Dubois is one of several British female fighters who have signed with MVP, co-founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian (right). [BBC Sport]

5 Live Boxing podcast with Bunce in Miami

More boxing from the BBC


Most Popular Posts