Andreas HaleDec 11, 2025, 08:13 PM ETCloseAndreas Hale is a combat sports reporter at ESPN. Andreas covers MMA, boxing and pro wrestling. In Andreas’ free time, he plays video games, obsesses over music and is a White Sox and 49ers fan. He is also a host for Sirius XM’s Fight Nation. Before joining ESPN, Andreas was a senior writer at DAZN and Sporting News. He started his career as a music journalist for outlets including HipHopDX, The Grammys and Jay-Z’s Life+Times. He is also an NAACP Image Award-nominated filmmaker as a producer for the animated short film “Bridges” in 2024.Follow on X
Why Jake Paul feels he’s capable of beating Anthony Joshua (1:37)Jake Paul tells Pat McAfee he has to fight a “perfect fight” to be able to beat Anthony Joshua on Dec. 19. (1:37)
The former YouTuber turned prizefighter will face the toughest test of his boxing career when he steps into the ring as a massive underdog against two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua on Dec. 19 in Miami.
“That guy is different. His power, his speed, his cardio, his nonstop punching and relentless pressure,” Paul said. “Your punches don’t mean s— to him. He has giant forearms that go from the bottom of his hip to the top of his head. You can’t get through his guard.”
As he prepares for Joshua, one of the most prolific knockout artists in heavyweight boxing, Paul has enlisted the help of heavyweights Jared Anderson and Lawrence Okolie to assist with his preparation.
“I had to bring in giants because of this very physically demanding fight,” Paul said. “I had to get used to being punched by heavyweights while also adding muscle.”
Paul said he has had some challenging sparring sessions in preparation for the fight, including Okolie giving him a black eye. However, Paul said that he learned that he could take a punch.
“I’ve learned that I have a chin,” Paul said. “I also learned in this camp that I’m very durable, tough and have a lot of heart. I believe the sparring has been tougher than what the fight with Joshua will be.”
Why Jake Paul feels he’s capable of beating Anthony Joshua (1:37)Jake Paul tells Pat McAfee he has to fight a “perfect fight” to be able to beat Anthony Joshua on Dec. 19. (1:37)
Jake Paul tells Pat McAfee he has to fight a “perfect fight” to be able to beat Anthony Joshua on Dec. 19. (1:37)
CloseAndreas Hale is a combat sports reporter at ESPN. Andreas covers MMA, boxing and pro wrestling. In Andreas’ free time, he plays video games, obsesses over music and is a White Sox and 49ers fan. He is also a host for Sirius XM’s Fight Nation. Before joining ESPN, Andreas was a senior writer at DAZN and Sporting News. He started his career as a music journalist for outlets including HipHopDX, The Grammys and Jay-Z’s Life+Times. He is also an NAACP Image Award-nominated filmmaker as a producer for the animated short film “Bridges” in 2024.Follow on X
It looks like Jake Paul’s boxing ambitions have limits, after all.