The blueprint for Jake Paul – how his preparation has changed for Anthony Joshua

Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua will meet in a highly anticipated heavyweight clash at the Kaseya Center in Miami on December 19. It will headline a Most Valuable Promotions card, with that fight and the rest of the main card available to all Netflix subscribers for no additional cost. 

The undercard will be available through MVP’s YouTube Channel and Netflix’s Tudum. We take a look at Paul’s training regime, and the changes made in his preparation to face Joshua.

The grind – Jake Paul’s full-time commitment to boxing

The narrative surrounding Jake Paul often focuses on the spectacle, but what gets lost is the fact that he runs his training camps like a full-time professional athlete. His approach is not that of a celebrity dabbling in a sport; it is a comprehensive regimen blending high-level boxing drills with the kind of intense strength and conditioning typically seen in an elite fight camp. Paul trains five to six days a week, often incorporating two sessions per day to manage the volume required for both skill and physical readiness, constantly attempting to obtain a true player experience.

The morning sessions are reserved for the finer points of “The Sweet Science.” This is where the bulk of the footwork drills, shadowboxing, and sparring rounds take place, normally running for 60 to 90 minutes. 

Paul and his team dedicate specific time to footwork drills that build stability in the ankles and improve lateral movement, a necessity for any evolving fighter. The evenings, however, transition to pure endurance and power. This includes long jogs (up to seven miles), heavy bag work, speed bag drills, and core exercises, all aimed at building the stamina needed to maintain power across the later rounds.

Paul’s commitment goes beyond the gym floor. Recovery is prioritized as heavily as the training itself, ensuring his body can handle the rigors of an intensive schedule. This means a focus on 8 to 9 hours of sleep, with regular ice baths, cryotherapy, and massage to manage soreness. 

To fuel this demanding pace, he follows a high-protein, high-calorie diet, typically consuming 3,800 to 4,000 calories daily, with an aim of hitting 200 grams of protein from sources such as lean meats, fish, and eggs for muscle repair. Potatoes and sweet potatoes provide the complex carbohydrates needed to sustain long sessions.

Paul’s mindset, cultivated through frequent meditation and visualization, reflects the seriousness of his transition into the sport. This dedication to the craft, rather than just the paycheck, is reflected in his improvement from his first professional fight until now.

Adjustments for the Anthony Joshua challenge

Facing a former unified world heavyweight champion like Anthony Joshua forces a shift in preparation that goes beyond standard camp protocol. Jake Paul is no longer preparing for a crossover opponent; he is preparing for a world-class knockout artist who punches considerably harder than anyone he’s ever faced.

The most critical change has been the adaptation of the sparring schedule. Paul has had to bring in sparring partners such as Frank Sanchez and Lawrence Okolie to mimic the power and size of an elite heavyweight. This camp has been described by Paul himself as “very difficult, very taxing on the body.” 

The focus has moved from aggressive dominance to resilience. The visual evidence of this is often a black eye or bruising seen in public appearances, proving he is learning the hard way during the Joshua camp.

While Jake Paul’s signature right hand remains his most dangerous weapon, the game plan against a fighter with Joshua’s jab and ring IQ cannot simply be relying on a knockout. His training would pivot to a high-volume, tagging approach, focusing on movement and slipping combinations rather than planting his feet to unload. 

For a man who openly admitted the danger of this fight “scares” him and impacts his sleep, this camp is ultimately less about building confidence and more about surviving against the biggest threat his faced in a boxing ring.