STYLE BREAKDOWN: JAKE PAUL VS. ANTHONY JOSHUA
A deep technical analysis of how these two very different fighters actually match up.
Physicality & Natural Tools
Anthony Joshua – The Elite Heavyweight Frame
Height: 6'6"
Reach: 82"
Weight: 240–250 lbs
Strengths: Explosive power, long levers, physical dominance, natural torque
Weaknesses: Stamina dips, stiff in extended exchanges, cautious under fire
Joshua’s physical tools are among the best in the sport. His jab, when he commits to it, is a piston. His right hand is a sledgehammer. His uppercut — especially inside — is one of the most violent punches ever thrown by a heavyweight.
But his size comes with drawbacks. Big muscles drain oxygen. His movement slows late. He becomes more defensive mentally when hurt.
Jake Paul – The Compact Power Technician
Height: 6'1"
Reach: 76"
Weight: 200–205 lbs
Strengths: Raw power, tight mechanics, improved balance, youthful cardio
Weaknesses: Smaller frame, less experience, untested against elite heavy shots
Paul is significantly smaller, but he’s compact, well-balanced, and strong for his size. He throws straight, simple punches with conviction. That simplicity is part of his success: nothing wasted, nothing flashy, everything efficient.
He’s built like a natural cruiserweight puncher — not a heavyweight — which shapes the technical dynamic of this fight.
Footwork & Ring Control
Anthony Joshua
Uses a tall, upright stance
Prefers to move in straight lines
Likes to establish range behind a long jab
Circles cleanly to his left to avoid big right hands
Can be predictable in his exit routes
Joshua’s footwork is fundamentally solid but not fluid. Against smaller opponents he can dominate with range. Against movers, like Usyk, he struggles to cut the ring off and gets stuck watching.
He’s best when he’s the boss — moving forward, controlling the center, positioning opponents where his power can land.
Jake Paul
Keeps a lower, denser stance
Strong base → improved balance when throwing
Moves better laterally than expected
Doesn’t waste movement — stays in punching position
Can freeze when overthinking defense
Paul’s footwork is designed around setting up the right hand. He’s not a dancer, but he’s patient and steady. He steps in behind the jab, resets well, and slips off angles better each fight.
Where he may struggle: cutting off escape lanes against a man with a longer jab.
Offense: Punch Selection & Traps
Anthony Joshua’s Offense
Joshua’s offense is built around fundamental destruction:
Long jab
1-2 (jab → straight right)
Jab → right uppercut
Double jab → right hand
Left hook off the jab
Joshua is at his most dangerous when opponents stand tall with him.
He excels when he can:
Dictate range
Force defensive shelling
Follow opponents straight back
His best trap is the jab → feint → straight right, where he gets opponents to slip inside and walk into power.
Jake Paul’s Offense
Paul’s offense is surprisingly disciplined:
Hard jab to chest and body
Step-in cross
Jab → right hand
Double jab to blind → right hand
Left hook intercept when opponents over-commit
Paul uses his right hand like a sniper rifle. Everything he does — foot placement, feints, body jabs — is designed to aim that weapon.
His best trap is:
Jab to the body → draw hands down → overhand right.
This punch has knocked out multiple pro fighters.
Defense & Durability
Anthony Joshua’s Defense
High guard
Good catch-and-shoot
Parrying jab is excellent
Weak when backing straight up
Vulnerable in mid-range exchanges
Historically shakier chin than elite heavyweights
Joshua can be hit clean.
Not because his defense is poor — but because:
His height makes him an easy target for overhand rights.
His chin has shown fragility under heavy fire.
He hesitates after being clipped.
If he stays disciplined, he’s hard to hit.
If he gets comfortable and opens up too much → danger.
Jake Paul’s Defense
Hands high, tight guard
Improved slips
Good awareness of right-hand counters
Still vulnerable to jabs and body shots
Durability untested against true heavyweights
Paul’s defense is one of the most improved parts of his game. He no longer lunges, he no longer shells up blindly, and he no longer backs straight up while admiring his work.
But his biggest unknown is what happens when a real 250-pound heavyweight lands clean.
That uncertainty is a major storyline.
Psychological Profile & Fight IQ
Anthony Joshua’s Mental Game
Joshua is a physical elite with a human mental profile:
Confidence swings
Becomes overly cautious after being hurt
Hesitation can freeze his offense
Sometimes overthinks game plans
When he is confident, he is a monster.
When doubt creeps in, he becomes mechanical.
Fighting a smaller man who has nothing to lose can amplify mental pressure.
Jake Paul’s Mental Game
Jake Paul’s greatest strength might be his mind:
Thrives in chaos
Extremely coachable
Handles pressure better than many pros
Not afraid to get hit
Believes in his own myth
He may not be the more skilled boxer.
But he might be the more mentally stable fighter under the lights.
And that matters.
How Their Styles Clash
Best-Case Scenario for Anthony Joshua
Start fast
Establish long jab immediately
Walk Paul down, trap him on ropes
Force him to shell up
Land a right hand before Paul adjusts
If Joshua lands clean in the first two or three rounds, the fight could end brutally.
This is a size-and-power mismatch early.
Best-Case Scenario for Jake Paul
Survive early power
Force Joshua to work
Jab to body to drain gas tank
Slow the fight down
Catch AJ during a reset with an overhand right
If Paul drags the fight into rounds 6–10, the dynamic changes.
The smaller, fresher fighter often becomes the hunter.
This is where a stunning upset becomes possible.
VII. Final Style Collision Summary
Early Rounds → Strong AJ Advantage
Too big
Too powerful
Too experienced
Middle Rounds → Toss-up
If AJ slows down
If Paul maintains composure
If Paul finds timing on the right hand
Later Rounds → Dangerous for AJ
If Paul makes it here, it means he survived the storm.
And once Joshua slows down, Paul’s simpler, tighter mechanics become dangerous.
Who Does the Style Matchup Favor Overall?
On paper: Joshua dominates.
In reality: It depends entirely on durability and gas tank.
If AJ fights disciplined → 75/25 Joshua.
If the fight gets chaotic → 55/45 Joshua.
If Paul takes AJ past round 6 → 50/50.
This is not a “skill vs skill” fight.
It is a style vs psychology fight.
It is a power vs composure fight.
It is a tradition vs disruption fight.
And stylistically, it’s one of the most fascinating matchups boxing could ever produce.
