ANTHONY JOSHUA TAPS USYK'S TEAM TO BEAT JAKE PAUL
Anthony Joshua is training with Oleksandr Usyk's team for his upcoming fight against Jake Paul. The former heavyweight champion has split from trainer Ben Davison ahead of the December 19th bout in Miami.
Anthony Joshua isn't taking any chances as he gears up for his fight against Jake Paul, the YouTuber who turned to boxing. The match is set for Miami next month.
Joshua, 36, hasn't been in the ring since his tough loss to Daniel Dubois last September. Now, he's teamed up with Oleksandr Usyk's crew to get ready for the eight-round fight on December 19. Usyk is the current world champ.
At the fight announcement in the US, Joshua said he's no longer working with his usual trainer, Ben Davison. Davison had told Boxing News Online that the fight was not good for boxing. Joshua mentioned he was invited to train with Usyk's team.
He’s one of the best, and it's not just him; it's the team around him, Joshua said. I've joined them to learn from someone who's achieved a lot. It's a great, tough experience.
Joshua, who lost to Usyk twice in 2021 and 2022, brushed off the criticism about the fight. His contract says he can't weigh more than 245 lbs. Still, he'll probably outweigh Paul by a good amount.
“I don’t worry about the people against me,” Joshua added. I focus on those who support me. I have nothing to say to the haters.
"I give credit to Jake and his team," Joshua continued. They reached out, and it was a good chance for me to fight. I wanted a year off, and then it was time to get back to work. I was planning to fight anyway, so I thought, ‘Why not? ’It’s huge news, bringing both marketability and skill together.
Paul, with 13 fights under his belt, has mostly fought former UFC fighters or older boxers. He won against 58-year-old Mike Tyson a year ago. In his last fight in June, he won against 39-year-old Julio Cesar Chavez, a former middleweight champ.
At the press conference, Paul respected Joshua's success but still thinks he can win. He said he's ready to go all out. He's one of the best, but fighting someone smaller can be tough for a heavyweight because of the speed advantage,” Paul said.
“He has power, and I need to avoid that one shot for eight rounds. I believe I can. Self-belief is strong. I know this is harder, but I know what I can do. This will be fun. I want him to hit me, even break my face. He’ll have to kill me to stop me, and I’m ready to die.
THE TOP FIVE: WHY EMANUEL NAVARRETE CONSIDERS "SUGAR" NúñEZ HIS MOST DANGEROUS THREAT YET
Unification is here: Discover why Emanuel Navarrete respects Eduardo "Sugar" Nunez and how to watch the Glendale title war live.
Emanuel Navarrete didn’t hold back this week. He made it clear that Eduardo “Sugar” Núñez isn’t just another unification opponent. With their WBO-IBF super featherweight title fight coming up Saturday night, Navarrete put Núñez in his personal top five toughest opponents. That’s a big compliment, especially from a guy who’s seen pretty much everything in the ring.
During Matchroom’s “Cards on the Table", Navarrete looked Núñez in the eye and said, “Of the five toughest opponents I’ve faced, without a doubt I consider you among them.” For a three-division champ, words like that feel loaded. Maybe he’s playing mind games. Or maybe he just respects what Núñez brings. Either way, it stands out, especially since people have been questioning Navarrete’s recent performances.
Núñez’s record looks scary: 29 wins, just one loss, and 27 knockouts. But if you look closer, things get complicated. He beat Christopher Díaz in Mexico, but that fight dragged into a twelve-round decision. Núñez couldn’t finish strong; his power faded late, and a lot of folks thought Díaz deserved a closer scorecard.
Even so, Eddie Hearn has been hyping up Núñez all week, framing him as the fresher, sharper champion in this matchup.
Meanwhile, Navarrete comes in with some baggage. His last fight against Charly Suarez got messy. The ref gave Navarrete a technical decision win, but then video replay showed Suarez caused a nasty cut with a left hook, not a head clash. The result switched to a no-contest, and the California commission ordered a rematch that never happened. That whole episode left a bad taste, and it exposed some holes in Navarrete’s defence. Now, people wonder if he can handle a disciplined, hard-hitting counter-puncher like Núñez.
Fighting in Glendale, Arizona, adds its own twist. The Mexican fan base always shows up big here, but with both guys hailing from Mexico, there’s no clear home advantage. This time, it’s all about national pride and those belts. The stakes go way beyond just the physical fight; there’s an emotional edge, too.
When two Mexican fighters square off, there’s this silent expectation: give the fans a war. Nobody wants to be the guy playing it safe or backing up all night, not with that crowd watching. It usually means both men take risks they wouldn’t take against anyone else.
Navarrete’s got the legacy, the belts, and the experience. Núñez is the hungry IBF champ looking to make his mark. In Mexican boxing, these moments when one star tries to take the torch from another tend to become legends. Just think Barrera vs. Morales. That’s the kind of fight on the table here, and both guys know what’s at stake.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: DECODING MANNY PACQUIAO’S 11-YEAR PLAN TO AVENGE HIS 2015 CAREER LOSS
Is the 50-0 streak over? Analyse Pacquiao’s recent form, Mayweather’s return, and the high-tech battle at The Sphere.
On September 19, 2026, Floyd Mayweather, now 49, and Manny Pacquiao, 47, will finally face off again. It’s been 11 years since their first fight, and this time they’re stepping into the ring at The Sphere in Las Vegas. Netflix will stream the event live, making it one of the most anticipated comebacks in recent boxing history.
Back in May 2015, Mayweather walked away from “The Fight of the Century” with a unanimous decision win. Since then, he’s only had one big match, a 2017 win over UFC’s Conor McGregor. Pacquiao, on the other hand, fought most recently in 2025. He went toe-to-toe with Mario Barrios, the WBC World Welterweight champ, and managed a draw. People were amazed to see Pacquiao, at 46, still holding his own.
Now, Pacquiao’s got unfinished business. He’s fired up to rewrite the story in this rematch.
When ESPN’s SportsCenter asked Pacquiao why now, he didn’t hesitate. “I’m still active in boxing, and then he came out of retirement, so he decided to do it again. I’m so excited for the fight.”
Mayweather has an exhibition lined up against Mike Tyson in spring 2026. Pacquiao is fighting Ruslan Provodnikov in April, also an exhibition. But when it comes to Mayweather, Pacquiao’s not interested in another exhibition match. “I don’t want to fight in an exhibition with him. I want to fight a real fight. This is what I’m waiting for.”
Pacquiao’s not making excuses this time around. After the first fight, he talked about a shoulder injury, but that’s in the past. “I learned a lot from that fight way back in 2015. I think we’ve both matured. We know how to handle it now. I hope it won’t be like last time. I want no more excuses, especially about my condition. I’m so excited and ready to fight.”
Even at 47, Pacquiao feels sharp. “Both of us are disciplined fighters. We take care of our bodies. I work out almost every day. Honestly, I still feel young. Nothing’s changed.”
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