In a surprising twist ahead of his December 19 bout against Jake Paul, former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has confirmed that he has parted ways with longtime trainer Ben Davison and will now prepare under the guidance of Oleksandr Usyk’s team.
The announcement came during a press conference for the Miami fight, which will stream live on Netflix. Joshua, citing distractions in London, explained that training with Usyk’s camp in Spain has provided a fresh and focused environment.
Joshua, who suffered two losses to Usyk in 2021 and 2022, described the experience as “phenomenal and challenging,” emphasizing that the insights gained extend beyond Usyk himself to the team surrounding the Ukrainian champion. He clarified that he is not sparring with Usyk, who is training separately.
Jake Paul, who will face Joshua in what marks the Briton’s return to the ring 15 months after his knockout loss to Daniel Dubois, appeared unfazed by the training switch. “He’s training with the best in the world, and I expect nothing less. I want the best Anthony Joshua on December 19,” Paul said, adding that he will deliver his own top performance.
Fans have already noted the striking physical advantage Joshua holds: he stands five inches taller, weighs 50 pounds more, and has a six-inch reach edge over Paul. Social media reactions reflect a mix of concern for Paul and anticipation for a dominant Joshua display.
The undercard for the event promises additional excitement, featuring UFC legends Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley, alongside a super featherweight title bout between Alycia Baumgardner and Leila Beaudoin.
