STWF Sports | MIAMI | Nov. 26, 2025 — Jake Paul has never been one to shy away from spectacle, but his latest challenge may be his boldest yet. With his December 19 showdown against former two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua looming, “The Problem Child” has adopted a punishing new training regimen designed to push his body into the unfamiliar terrain of true heavyweight combat. And he’s doing it at full throttle.

Paul, 28, was originally preparing for a drastically different fight — an exhibition against WBA lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis. That bout, capped at 195 pounds and widely viewed as entertainment rather than competition, fell apart earlier this month. Within days, Paul announced a seismic pivot: a full professional heavyweight matchup against one of the most decorated power punchers of this era.

For context, Paul is moving from sparring men who fight at 135 pounds to standing across from a heavyweight who once flattened former UFC champion Francis Ngannou with frightening ease. Joshua, now 35, is reportedly walking around at 265 pounds, according to promoter Eddie Hearn. The gulf in size, power, and pedigree is historic.

But if Paul feels intimidated, he refuses to show it.

‘I Feel Like an NFL Player’

Speaking with The Schmo, Paul detailed how his entire strength and conditioning program has transformed since shifting from Davis to Joshua.

“I started eating more pasta, gaining weight,” Paul said. “Less running, more weightlifting, bench press, squats — I feel like an NFL player getting ready to take on the big guys.”

The YouTube-star-turned-boxer claims he’s now sparring massive heavyweights — so large, he jokes, that his camp has had to buy two airline seats for them. The intense push toward size and strength, Paul says, is all part of preparing for Joshua’s speed and power.

“Sparring massive, massive guys, and just believing in myself. That’s all that matters,” he added. “I’m ready to fight at all times — this is what we do it for, these big moments.”

Paul emphasized that the real work isn’t in the press conferences, callouts, or viral moments that have defined his rise in boxing, but in the grind of the gym.

“You don’t get paid for sparring; you don’t get paid for hitting the gym. I want the big fights and the best people.”

Looking Past Joshua? Paul Eyes Cruiserweight Gold

While Paul’s leap to heavyweight is an audacious one, he insists his long-term ambitions still lie at cruiserweight. After the Joshua bout, he wants a world title — and names like Canelo Alvarez, Terence Crawford, and Tyson Fury remain on his hit list of dream opponents.

“Those are the names, man,” Paul said. “But I think Joshua and Canelo are probably two of the biggest names I could possibly take on in this sport right now.”

Though critics argue Paul hasn’t earned a shot against elite contenders, his global reach — and willingness to take on towering challenges — continues to secure him massive fights and an even larger spotlight.

STACKED UNDERCARD ADDS STAR POWER

The December 19 card, streamed globally as part of the Netflix boxing initiative, is shaping up as one of the year’s most star-studded events. In the co-main event, Alycia Baumgardner faces Leila Beaudoin in a triple-title super featherweight bout for the WBA, IBF, and WBO belts. Meanwhile, Cherneka Johnson meets Amanda Galle for undisputed bantamweight status.

Adding nostalgia and crossover appeal, former UFC champions Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley — both previous Paul opponents — will square off once again in a grudge match laced with storyline and history.

A MONUMENTAL RISK WITH MASSIVE REWARD

Jake Paul’s transition from a 195-pound exhibition fighter to a full-sized heavyweight preparing for a 265-pound Joshua underscores the sheer audacity of the matchup. The size disparity is real, the stakes are enormous, and the path to victory for Paul is narrow.

But if boxing’s modern showman thrives anywhere, it’s in the unexpected.

On December 19 at Miami’s Kaseya Center, Paul plans to prove that his heavyweight gamble is more than a headline — it’s a moment he’s been building toward with every pound of pasta, every squat rep, and every oversized sparring partner flown into his camp.