Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul set the tone for their much-anticipated heavyweight clash with a tense confrontation at Thursday’s weigh-in in Miami, where Anthony Joshua forcefully pushed Jake Paul’s fist away and warned him: “Don’t touch me.”
The face-off, held ahead of Friday night’s bout at the Kaseya Center, underlined the growing edge between the two fighters as they completed formalities for what has been labelled one of boxing’s most controversial match-ups.
Joshua, a two-time heavyweight world champion, appeared visibly irritated when Paul responded to his raised fist by stepping closer during the staredown.
Moments later, Joshua brushed Paul’s hand aside and delivered the stern message, reinforcing the seriousness with which he is approaching the contest.
The Briton then made a throat-slitting gesture as Paul walked away, further fuelling debate following his inflammatory remarks earlier in the week.
Despite the flare-up, Joshua later attempted to downplay the incident, insisting there was “mutual respect” between both fighters.
Asked about the exchange, the 36-year-old was blunt. “I said, ‘Don’t touch me.’ I’ll outclass this kid. I’m a serious fighter. That’s the difference,” he said.
On the scales, the gulf between both men was clear. Joshua weighed in at 17st 5lb (110kg), comfortably under the agreed limit of 17st 7lb, while Paul tipped the scales at 15st 7lb (98kg).
The near two-stone difference has been a major talking point in the build-up, reflecting Joshua’s long-established pedigree at heavyweight against Paul’s relative inexperience.
Paul, however, showed no signs of intimidation. During the weigh-in and subsequent media interactions, the YouTuber-turned-boxer continued to taunt Joshua, claiming the pressure was on the former champion and insisting he was fighting “free.”
The pair crossed paths again during Joshua’s interview, with Paul launching further verbal jabs as promoter Eddie Hearn looked on. Their next meeting will be inside the ring, where words and gestures will give way to punches.
As the weigh-in drama concluded, one thing was clear: the talking is over.
With tempers flaring and pride on the line, both fighters are now locked in for judgement day, ready to settle their differences under the lights in Miami.
