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Fighter's Mentality

"I will break his face and break his body up. My goal is to show I'm superior," Joshua, 35 years old, declared.

"I'll stamp all over him. That's the boxer's mindset.

"I'm going to genuinely try to cause him pain. That's my intention."

Civil Exchange

Despite those words, a relaxed Joshua and internet personality Jake Paul - normally famous for his theatrics - exchanged pleasantries and remained civil with each other.

Jake Paul instead criticized former Joshua opponent the Cameroonian fighter and described him as "ridiculous" after Ngannou rejected a match opportunity.

Taking Aim at Tyson Fury

Joshua, meanwhile, criticized British opponent Fury - and refused a large bet 'Tyson Fury' says he will place on a Paul win.

"[Paul] outshines Fury - he's actually sitting here," the boxer stated.

"I give him credit for that."

Legitimate Fighter

Despite declaring he will damage his opponent, Joshua chose not to talk badly about his opponent's fighting skills.

"Jake Paul is a serious fighter," he remarked.

Paul's Background

Jake Paul - who originally gained popularity on the Disney Channel - has mainly fought mixed martial artists or faded names since becoming pro.

He was defeated by British fighter Tommy Fury in 2023.

Commercial Success

Nevertheless, the inexperienced fighter continues to be one of boxing's biggest financial successes, consistently making huge earnings.

Prediction and Confidence

The 28 year old predicted a knockout win in round four or five and asserted he would derail the highly-expected match between Joshua and Fury, which is reportedly in the works for 2026.

"The next fight will be my match with Fury in the coming year," Paul declared.

Size Disparity

As Joshua and Paul participated in the usual stare-down, with their size difference evident, it drove home just how unlikely this entire matchup is - and how remarkable it is that the bout is truly going ahead.