Jake Paul’s true intentions for a potential fight with Anthony Joshua have been uncovered by a body language expert.
Social media sensation Jake Paul is now less than a month away from stepping into the ring with former two-time heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua. Although “The Problem Child” enters the bout as a huge underdog, a body language expert believes Paul has already crafted a strategy he thinks can win him the fight.
Paul and Joshua came face-to-face for the first time on Friday following the announcement that AJ would replace Gervonta “Tank” Davis for the £140 million showdown at Miami’s Kaseya Center on December 19.
At the venue’s opening press conference, the atmosphere was unexpectedly respectful, with both fighters showing confidence in their abilities rather than trading insults. Joshua praised Paul and his team for securing such a “massive” opportunity, while Paul acknowledged the danger of facing “one of the best heavyweights ever.”
Jake Paul’s Bold Prediction for the Joshua Fight
Despite the mutual respect, Paul confidently predicted a knockout victory by the fourth or fifth round, even joking that he’d become “CEO of Matchroom Boxing” and set up a future fight with Tyson Fury.
When pressed on why he believes he can upset a former world champion, Paul said his smaller frame could actually work in his favour.
He argued that speed, footwork, angles, and head movement could give Joshua problems, adding:
“I’ve just got to avoid that one shot for eight rounds, which I feel capable of doing. If I’m bouncing around, jabbing and weaving, I can pick him apart. Don’t respect me for getting in there — respect me because I’m about to win.”
Expert Reveals What Paul’s Body Language Really Shows
Body language analyst Bruce Durham studied Paul’s comments and gestures to gauge how genuine his confidence is.
Durham noted that Paul rubbed his knee while mentioning his foot speed — a classic “self-soothing” gesture often used when someone is trying to reassure themselves.
According to Durham, this signals that Paul hopes his movement will be too much for Joshua, even if he isn’t fully certain.
Durham also pointed to Paul’s irritated reaction when Joshua spoke about his future plans for 2026. He suggested Paul’s watch adjustment showed annoyance that AJ was already looking beyond him — a sign of genuine competitive fire rather than fear.
“I love that he’s irritated,” Durham said. “It shows real self-belief. He’s fired up and doesn’t like being overlooked.”
A Fully Primed Jake Paul Expected — But Will It Be Enough?
Durham concluded that Paul will arrive in peak physical and mental condition, driven by genuine confidence.
Whether that will be enough to defeat Joshua, he admits, is unclear — but he believes fans will see the best version of Paul yet.
“Confidence fuels performance,” Durham said, “and that’s exactly what Jake Paul has going into this fight — which is why it’s such an exciting matchup.”
