ANTHONY JOSHUA will head into his fight against Jake Paul with an all-new coaching team.
The two-time heavyweight world champion announced he will face YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul on December 19 in Miami live on Netflix.
AJ has been out of the ring since September 2024 when he was knocked out by Daniel Dubois in what looks to be his final fight under trainer Ben Davison.
Joshua has spent time training with Oleksandr Usyk’s camp – following his two losses to the Ukrainian great in 2021 and 2022.
And the masterful coaching team are to be handed perhaps boxing’s easiest assignment with Joshua fighting Paul.
Ahead of their opening press conference, promoter Eddie Hearn told SunSport: “He’s been working obviously with Usyk’s team.
“I think he’ll probably make an announcement at the presser today or in due course what he’s doing with his training setup.
“I think what he does in this fight won’t necessarily emulate what he does moving forward.
“But it’ll give him a good opportunity to have a look at what is really a run out and that was the plan for here as well.”
Joshua, 36, was due to fight on this weekend’s DAZN PPV card in Saudi Arabia against little-known 23-2 American Cassius Chaney, 38.
But Paul, 28, was left searching for an opponent after domestic abuse allegations against Gervonta Davis, 30, saw him taken off their November 14 exhibition.
Hearn – who expected Paul’s camp to be bluffing when first approached for the big-money bout – could hardly believe AJ’s luck.
The bout will be professionally-sanctioned over eight three-minute rounds although AJ is limited to weighing no more than 245lb.
Paul’s only heavyweight fight was against Mike Tyson – who controversially made a comeback aged 58 last November, losing over eight shorter two-minute rounds.
Hearn added: “I cannot fathom or even begin to think about AJ losing to Jake Paul. I guess anything’s possible but you know. I don’t see how that can happen.
“But listen, you have to give Jake Paul the credit. I mean, he’s doing this because he wants to challenge himself as a boxer. Which deserves respect.
“I think it’s a bad move from him but he’s obviously convinced himself and has members of the team.
“And by the way, I suppose if you really want to try and start convincing yourself this is a good time to fight Anthony Joshua, you probably can.
“He’s been out for 15 months or whatever it’ll be. He’s coming off a knockout defeat. Maybe his confidence isn’t what it was but he’s still Anthony Joshua.
“He’s not Mike Tyson who’s 58. This guy’s still pretty much in his prime So yeah, the whole thing’s madness but it was an opportunity that we couldn’t refuse.”
