The British heavyweight boxer Lawrence Okolie has offered to help Jake Paul in his preparation for the fight against Anthony Joshua, proposing sparring sessions with the YouTuber turned boxer.
The Paul vs. Joshua face-off, scheduled as an eight-round professional bout with 10-ounce gloves in Miami, was announced on Monday.
This will be Joshua’s first fight since September 2024, when he suffered a knockout defeat in the fifth round against Daniel Dubois.
Former cruiserweight champion Okolie (22-1, 16 KOs) is preparing for his own fight, which will take place on the same night as the Paul-Joshua fight, on December 19 in Nigeria.
This will be his first fight since July, when he suffered a biceps injury in the first round.
The British boxer explains that he wants Paul to have a decent experience of what it feels like to be in the ring with a world-class heavyweight. Okolie, who also has an upcoming fight, plans to be available for a couple of weeks to train with Paul. He is intrigued by Paul’s confidence in facing a boxer of Joshua’s caliber. Okolie has been Joshua’s sparring partner in the past and, although he acknowledges the great difference in size and skill, he does not rule out that the fight could last more than a few rounds.I want to go and help Jake Paul, give him a chance. I don’t want him to be completely destroyed in a round or something like that if AJ sets his mind to it.
Lawrence Okolie
Okolie suggests that Joshua might not seek a quick knockout, but warns that if Paul manages to land significant blows, the situation could change drastically. The British boxer concludes by stating that, although he doesn’t rule anything out, he is aware that unexpected results can occur.I’m not going to pretend there isn’t a big difference in size, skill, and other things. But crazier things have happened. So, we’ll see.
Lawrence Okolie
