Jake Paul sparring three top heavyweights for Anthony Joshua fight including former world champion
Jake Paul has drafted in some top-quality sparring partners for his upcoming fight with Anthony Joshua.
‘The Problem Child’ is set to lock horns with AJ on December 19 at Miami’s Kaseya Center in a professional heavyweight bout.
It marks his second splash in boxing’s glamour division after a controversial clash with Mike Tyson last November.
Paul, who traditionally competes at cruiserweight (200lbs), has been steadily piling on the pounds by cramming in calories and spending more time in the weight room.
But he’s also been adjusting to his new surroundings by sharing rounds with some seriously big men.
On Friday, Paul took to social media to post a photo of himself in the gym with highly-ranked heavyweights Jared Anderson, Frank Sanchez and Lawrence Okolie after a gruelling sparring session.
Who are Jake Paul’s sparring partners?
Anderson (18-1) was once considered the future of the heavyweight division, but a crushing knockout loss to Martin Bakole in August 2024 saw his stock fall tenfold.
The 26-year-old has since returned to winning ways and is now in line for an IBF final eliminator bout against Sanchez, whom he curiously looks to have just sparred.
Sanchez (25-1) is also rebuilding his career after suffering his first defeat at the hands of Agit Kabayel.
The Cuban has been patiently waiting for his opportunity to fight for the right to become the IBF’s mandatory challenger, but has received multiple rejections so far.
Okolie (22-1) is a former WBC cruiserweight and bridgerweight champion.
The Brit is now competing in boxing’s blue riband division and returns to action on December 19 for a headliner in Lagos, Nigeria.
Jake Paul’s sparring has changed dramatically
Paul’s sparring partners are certainly a lot different from the last batch he had in the gym.
Before signing to fight Joshua, Paul was in line to box WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis in an exhibition bout on November 14.
As a result, he called upon the services of some elite lower-weight fighters to help prime his reflexes and speed.
Among them were reigning WBC lightweight king Shakur Stevenson (24-0), former WBA featherweight champion Raymond Ford (18-1-1) and ex-WBO lightweight title holder Keyshawn Davis (13-0).
Paul had been due to meet ‘Tank’ at a catchweight of 195lbs.
However, the fight got cancelled after Davis’ ex-girlfriend launched a civil lawsuit against the Baltimore boxer, alleging domestic abuse.
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