Alexander Usyk sits in the corner of the gym, watching as, to the dull thud of pads and the rustle of a skipping rope, Anthony Joshua works through another combination. The air smells of resin, chalk and hard work. During a short break between rounds, Usyk allows himself a brief pause – and it is at this moment that the conversation turns to the bout that has been stirring the boxing world for several weeks: Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul.
"Anthony Is Not Someone To Play With"
Usyk speaks calmly, without trying to smooth the edges or find more diplomatic wording. "If Anthony wants to, he'll just switch this guy off," he says, nodding toward the ring. There is not a trace of doubt in his voice.
The Ukrainian does not hide the fact that he is involved in Joshua's preparations for the American and understands perfectly well how huge the gap is between them in terms of boxing level. "People keep asking me the same question: does Jake have a chance? I give everyone the same answer: Anthony is an Olympic champion, a former world champion in the heavyweight division. Jake is an athlete, a blogger, a showman. These are different worlds."
A Sharp Metaphor And A Cautious Interpreter
The most vivid image Usyk uses to illustrate this difference has already spread across the media space. "It's like comparing a Rolls-Royce to an old Soviet sedan," he smiles. "I'm not saying someone is 'worse' as a person, it's just a fact: these are cars of different classes. It's the same here – different levels of boxing."
An interesting detail: during the interview, the champion's interpreter preferred not to reproduce the name "Moskvich" literally and softened it to "an old car". Usyk merely smirks: "It's fine, the ones who need to will get it."
Statistics That Speak For Themselves
When the conversation turns to numbers, the tone becomes even more businesslike. Anthony Joshua has had 32 professional fights, winning 28 of them. Behind him are title bouts, unification nights, highlight-reel knockouts and grueling rematches.
On the other side is Jake Paul, who has 12 wins in 13 fights. The numbers look impressive for a former YouTuber, but Usyk emphasizes that it is not only the record that matters, but also the level of opposition, fighting style, ability to take a punch and to work over championship distance. "One thing is big shows and hype; it's a completely different story when a genuine elite heavyweight is standing across from you," the Ukrainian explains.
Jake Paul's Promises And The Taste Of Show Business
Jake Paul himself keeps fueling the crowd's interest. He has already promised to knock out the British heavyweight in the fourth or fifth round and immediately mapped out his next goal – to step into the ring against Tyson Fury next year.
Usyk treats these statements with a slight smile: "This is business. Big money, noise, views. But if you strip away the show, you're left with pure boxing, and there it is the level that decides everything."
At the same time, the Ukrainian adds an unexpected detail: he says he does not wish Paul any harm. "I pray for Jake," Alexander says. "Do you know why? Because I myself would like to face him in the octagon one day. It would be interesting to test myself in a different format."
Eight Rounds, One Night And A Champion's View
The upcoming bout has officially been announced as an eight-round professional fight. It will take place on December 19 in Miami and will be broadcast by the Netflix platform – yet another confirmation that this event sits at the intersection of sport and big-time entertainment.
For fans, it is a chance to see how far Paul has come from blogger to professional boxer, and whether he can pass the test posed by one of the most dangerous heavyweights of his generation.
Usyk draws the line in simple terms: "Let people watch and draw their own conclusions. But for me everything is already clear: when a boxer like Anthony Joshua is standing in front of you, you shouldn't be praying for a show, but just to make it to the final bell."
There is no bravado in his words – only the experience of a man who has already gone through ring wars with the British heavyweight twice and knows perfectly well what he is capable of when he really wants to "finish this guy".
