The boxing world held its breath as Jake Paul promised a “major update” just weeks before his highly anticipated fight against Anthony Joshua. Fears immediately swirled – would the controversial matchup fall apart before it even began?
Instead of a fight cancellation, Paul delivered a different kind of bombshell. He announced the signing of Caroline Dubois, a rising star in British boxing and the younger sister of former heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois, to his promotional company.
Dubois, a lightweight world champion, will defend her title against Italy’s Camila Panatta on the same Miami card as the Paul-Joshua fight. The news came after a deliberately cryptic social media post from Paul, fueling speculation and ultimately proving to be a masterful diversion.
“You dummies thought I was going to pull out of the fight?” Paul declared, dismissing concerns. He framed the signing of Dubois as part of a larger strategy: building a roster of elite fighters under his Most Valuable Promotions banner.
Dubois herself expressed excitement about the move, stating that joining MVP is a crucial step towards achieving her goal of becoming the face of women’s boxing. She joins a growing contingent of British female world champions already aligned with Paul’s company.
Meanwhile, Paul is undergoing rigorous training, sparring with a series of formidable heavyweight contenders. He recently revealed a black eye courtesy of Lawrence Okolie, a fellow British Olympian and former cruiserweight champion, highlighting the intensity of his preparation.
Okolie, a towering figure at 6-foot-6 and 270 pounds, is providing a brutal test for Paul, who weighs in significantly lighter. The American fighter is clearly pushing himself to the limit in anticipation of facing the much larger Joshua.
Joshua, on the other hand, appears to be in peak condition. He’s already comfortably under the 245-pound weight limit imposed for the fight, recently tipping the scales at 243.8 pounds. This is a significant shift from his recent fights, where he’s consistently weighed over 250 pounds.
Having previously fought under the weight limit during his world title bouts against Oleksandr Usyk, Joshua seems determined to enter the ring with Paul at his most lean and powerful, ready to make a statement after a year away from competition.
The stage is now set for a clash of styles and a battle of wills. With Dubois added to the card and both fighters focused on their preparations, the December 19th showdown is rapidly approaching.
