Jake Paul Predicts ‘Biggest Upset in the History of Sports'
Jake Paul has earned an impressive 12-1 record in his professional boxing career, but his skils will be put to their greatest test on Friday night when he faces former world champion Anthony Joshua.
Paul has been in the ring with all-time greats in the past, but he's never faced a fighter as good as Joshua in the prime of their career. Joshua is stepping in to face Paul on short notice after another planned bout was canceled, but he still enters as a heavy favorite against the former YouTuber.
Despite his lack of experience and the size difference to Joshua, Paul believes he has what it takes to come away with an unexpected victory. At Thursday's weigh-in, the social media star turned athlete made a bold claim about the fight's result.
Paul's Bold Prediction for Friday's Fight
"The odds are stacked against me. There's no sporting teams in history that have gone together where it's this big of a difference in terms of skill, experience, résumé, height, weight, etc," Paul said, comparing himself to the 2007 New York Giants before their upset over the undefeated New England Patriots in that season's Super Bowl.
"So this is going to be the biggest upset in the history of sports, and you guys get to witness it, and I get to witness it."
Most sportsbooks and oddsmakers have Joshua as an overwhelming favorite in Friday's heavyweight fight. The two-time champion is between a -900 and -1300 favorite, rivaling some of the most dominant fighters of all time against certain opponents.
There is almost a 30-pound weight difference between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua heading into their heavyweight bout tomorrow ???? pic.twitter.com/pLoHvkoV1p
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) December 18, 2025
Jake Paul's Opponent Anthony Joshua
Paul is on a six-fight winning streak dating back to his victory over UFC star Nate Diaz in 2023, while Joshua has not fought since his loss to Daniel Dubois in 2024. Joshua holds a 28-4 career record in 32 fights, with 25 of those victories coming by way of knockout.
Prior to his professional career, Joshua won a gold medal while representing Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics. The former champion didn't hold back when discussing what he'd be willing to do to Paul in order to win the fight.
"It's my job — we fight. We have a license to kill. I'm sure many people don't understand it, but this is what my job is," the 36-year-old said. "I just enjoy what I do. Whatever happens, happens. As long as my hand's raised, that's what's important, right?"
Joshua said that the boxing ring is "a dangerous place to be and anything can happen."
"You hope your opponent leaves the ring safely, but if they don't, you still have to go to bed at night knowing that you've just done your job, it wasn't personal."
We'll see if Paul has what it takes to defy the odds on Friday, December 19. Fans can tune in to the fight card, which will stream live on Netflix at 8 PM ET.