MIAMI (AFP) — Youtuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul is backing “delusional optimism” to carry him to an upset over British former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua when the two men clash in a made-for-streaming event in Miami next month.

Paul, 28, who defeated a 58-year-old Mike Tyson in a heavily criticized fight screened on Netflix in 2024, will take on a vastly younger opponent when he faces the 36-year-old Joshua in an eight-round heavyweight bout on 19 December in Florida.

The fight, which will reportedly see both men divide a massive $184 million purse, has once again raised safety concerns across boxing, with the 6-foot-1 Paul going up against the hard-hitting 6-foot-6 Joshua, the 2012 Olympic champion and two-time unified heavyweight champion.

Former world champion David Haye warned earlier this week the fight could be Paul’s “last day on earth.” The British Boxing Board of Control, meanwhile, said it would not have sanctioned the fight on safety grounds.

‘I have gotten to where I am today because of delusional optimism.’

Paul, whose limited ring record includes 12 wins and one defeat, with seven knockouts, will be at a sizeable, height, weight and reach disadvantage against Joshua, who has 25 knockouts amongst his 28 career wins, with only four defeats.

However, the trash-talking American was adamant on Friday that he has the tools to stop Joshua as the two men faced off in a promotional event for next month’s Netflix special.

Asked by a moderator if he had “lost his mind” by opting to take on Joshua, Paul replied: “I like to challenge myself against the best. We’re going to go to war and the best man will win.”

“I have gotten to where I am today because of delusional optimism. It’s delusion until it’s not. It’s got me to where I am today. No one ever thought that this would be possible, that we would be here when I first started boxing, and no one thinks I’m going to win. So join the list and be ready to be shocked.”

Joshua, meanwhile, who towered above Paul during Friday’s event, warned he is ready to deliver an emphatic victory.

After praising Paul’s “solid” mentality and vowing to give him “respect,” Joshua stated: “If I’m gonna be honest, I’m gonna break his face, I’m gonna break his body up, I’m gonna stomp all over him.”