STWF Sports | Nov. 21, 2025 – Anthony Joshua has never shied away from making bold moves in pursuit of greatness, and his latest decision may be one of the most surprising of his career. Ahead of his December 19 clash with Jake Paul, the former two-time heavyweight champion revealed that he has been training with none other than Oleksandr Usyk’s camp — the same team responsible for defeating him twice.
Joshua (28–4) will return to the ring for the first time in 15 months when he headlines Netflix’s blockbuster Miami card at the Kaseya Center. The bout marks his first appearance since his knockout loss to Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September 2024. And with scrutiny mounting over his form and direction, Joshua confirmed on Friday that he has made a major shift in his preparation.
Joshua Leaves Ben Davison; Joins Usyk’s Team in Spain
When asked whether Ben Davison and Lee Wylie remained his trainers for this fight, Joshua didn’t hesitate.
“No, I won’t be trained by Ben Davison,” Joshua said.
Instead, the British star explained that the distractions of London pushed him to accept an invitation to join Team Usyk — a move almost unthinkable given their rivalry.
“London is a bit distracting for me, so I was invited to train with Team Usyk,” Joshua said. “I’ve been in Spain, we’ve been doing some good training. He’s one of the best in the world… and so is the team around him.”
Joshua emphasized that the experience has been transformative.
“Getting an insight into how someone who’s achieved so much operates has been phenomenal. It’s been a great experience and very challenging.”
He confirmed he has been working with Usyk’s team for a couple of months, though he clarified that he is not sparring with Usyk directly.
“He’s training somewhere else at the moment,” Joshua said. “He’s in and out of camp, so right now he’s somewhere else.”
Paul Responds: “I Want the Best Version of AJ”
Jake Paul — who steps into the ring at 12–1 — responded with calm acknowledgment after hearing Joshua’s training revelation.
“It’s great,” Paul said. “He’s training with the best in the world. He’s one of the best heavyweights in the world. We expect nothing less.”
Paul, who was originally scheduled to fight Gervonta Davis on November 14 before the bout was cancelled, insisted that fans will see his best performance yet on December 19.
“It’s going to be the best version of Jake Paul you’ve seen,” he said. “We’ll see who’s better.”
Size Mismatch Continues to Raise Questions
Despite Paul’s confidence, concerns over his safety and competitiveness remain rampant. The physical difference between the fighters became impossible to ignore during Friday’s press conference.
Joshua stands 6’6″, weighs roughly 250 lbs, and boasts a six-inch reach advantage. Paul is 6’1″, significantly lighter, and even wearing platform shoes, appeared tiny beside the towering former champion.
Fans loudly voiced their fears across social media:
“It’s over for him.”
“Jake is definitely done.”
“Joshua is going to give him serious damage.”
The matchup may be lucrative, but many in the sport see it as a dangerous mismatch.
A Stacked Undercard Adds Star Power
Friday’s press event also confirmed a major undercard.
Two UFC legends — Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley — will meet in a special attraction bout. Meanwhile, in the co-main event, Alycia Baumgardner will defend her WBA, IBF, and WBO super featherweight titles against Leila Beaudoin.
The December 19 Miami card is shaping up to be one of Netflix’s biggest combat sports spectacles yet. And with Joshua now sharpening his tools under the guidance of Usyk’s elite camp, the intrigue surrounding this crossover main event only continues to grow.
Whether Paul can shock the world — or whether Joshua reasserts dominance — remains the question looming over fight week.
