MIAMI — The heavyweight showdown between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul is officially set. Both fighters successfully made weight Thursday afternoon at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, clearing the final hurdle before their eight-round main event Friday night at Kaseya Center, streamed exclusively on Netflix.
Joshua Comes in Lightest Since 2021
Under bout rules, Joshua could not weigh more than 245 pounds. The former two-time unified heavyweight champion stepped on the scale at 243.4 pounds, his lightest weight since his September 2021 first meeting with Oleksandr Usyk. Joshua weighed in roughly 45 minutes after Paul.
Paul Nears Career-High Weight
Jake Paul tipped the scales at 216.6 pounds, the second heaviest of his professional career a sign of the size disparity he’ll face against the 6’6″ Joshua.
Still, the YouTuber-turned-boxer insisted throughout fight week that he welcomes the challenge of facing a true heavyweight star for the first time.
Bigger Ring, Standard Gloves
Friday’s fight will take place in a 22-by-22 foot ring, slightly larger than the standard 20-by-20 setup. The added space could favor movement and distance work, something both camps were aware of going into the negotiations.
Both fighters will wear 10-ounce gloves, standard for a sanctioned heavyweight contest.
With the weigh-in complete and both men looking sharp on the scales, all that’s left is fight night and one of the most unusual, high-profile matchups in recent boxing history.
It’s going to be very interesting to see if the bigger gloves will have an actual impact on this fight. We’ll see if any fighter can actually hurt each other.
Eddie Hearn Says Anthony Joshua Will “Take Care of Business”
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
