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Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua: What are the other biggest weight differences in heavyweight fights?

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When Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua weigh in on Thursday ahead of their eight-round heavyweight fight on December 19 in Miami, a significant weight difference can be expected.

Former YouTuber Paul moves up from his usual cruiserweight division to fight Joshua, who has been one of the greatest of his heavyweight peers throughout his era.

Joshua’s most recent weigh-in was for his fight with Daniel Dubois at 252 pounds. Meanwhile, Paul weighed 227 pounds when he faced the aging Mike Tyson in a heavyweight fight.

However, this is not the first time that there has been a significant weight difference between two fighters. Here are some other fights that have thrown things off balance.

Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk (2024)

Weight difference: 55 pounds

Tyson Fury: 281 pounds

Oleksandr Usyk: 226 pounds

Result: Usyk won by unanimous decision

Significance: Both men opted to employ heavier means in the second fight than in their first meeting in May 2024. The fury increased by as much as 19 pounds when Usyk gained only 2 pounds – it was the heaviest weight the Briton has ever made in his career. Many viewed Fury’s decision to attack harder as an attempt to bully Usyk and dominate the rematch.

Roy Jones Jr. vs. John Ruiz (2003)

Weight difference: 31 pounds

Roy Jones Jr.: 193 pounds

John Ruiz: 224 pounds

Result: Jones Jr. win. a massive unanimous decision

Meaning: Jones Jr. became the first former middleweight champion in over 100 years to win the heavyweight title in a fight dubbed Never Take A Heavyweight Lightly. Despite losing weight, height and reach in favor of the Puerto Rican, Jones Jr conducted a masterclass in technical boxing and picked the 31-year-old Ruiz at will.

Nikolai Valuev vs. David Haye (2009)

Weight difference: 98 pounds

Nikolai Valuev: ~316 pounds

David Haye: 218 pounds

Result: Haye used his speed to secure a majority victory

Meaning: This is one of the largest weight discrepancies in world title fight history and has literally been described as a David vs. Goliath fight. Haye scored the win and broke his arm in the process, describing Valuev’s header as “the hardest thing I’ve ever hit.” It’s like hitting a solid brick wall. With the victory, the Londoner became the first Briton to hold the world heavyweight crown since Lennox Lewis retired in 2003.

Nikolai Valuev vs. John Ruiz (2005)

Weight difference: ~86 lbs

Nikolai Valuev: over 320 pounds

John Ruiz: ~238 lbs

Result: Valuev won a controversial majority decision to become the tallest and heaviest champion in history.

Meaning: This one was extremely controversial given the weight difference between the fighters – it also infuriated the crowd as Valuev relied on clenching and holding despite his significant size advantage. Valuev’s victory also made him the first Russian world heavyweight champion. Ruiz was furious after the fight, stating that: “Boxing is the only sport where you can get robbed without a gun.”

Daniel Dubois vs. Jarrell Miller (2023)

Weight difference: 94 pounds

Daniel Dubois: 239 pounds

Jarrell Miller: 333 pounds

Result: Dubois stopped Miller in the 10th round.

Significance: Despite a huge weight disadvantage, Dubois’ conditioning allowed him to outwork the much heavier Miller and he secured the victory over Miller with seconds remaining in their 10-round heavyweight bout in Ridyah. It was a tardy attack from the Briton that swung the fight in his favor after Miller took multiple punches thrown in the early rounds. Dubois also landed a career-high 208 punches in the fight.

Fabio Wardley vs. Dennis Lewandowski (2019)

Weight difference: ~120 lbs

Fabio Wardley: ~230 lbs

Dennis Lewandowski: ~350 pounds

Result: Wardley won by TKO in the 3rd round.

Meaning: One of the most extreme weight differences seen in state-of-the-art professional fighting. Wardley handed Lewandowski his first defeat at the distance, securing his seventh victory in a row and sixth after the break. The Ipswich-born fighter started stringing together combinations in the third quarter, bled Lewandowski’s nose and knocked him down twice with right uppercuts – the referee had seen enough and stopped the fight in round 3.

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Dave Allen predicts Conor Benn vs Ryan Garcia knockout: ‘I’m putting him in the top bracket’

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Dave Allen makes knockout prediction for Conor Benn vs Ryan Garcia: “I put him in the top bracket”

Dave Allen has predicted how compatriot Conor Benn will fare if he faces Ryan Garcia later this year.

Both pairs are to break off contact with each other before the end of 2026, but the date and place of their fight for the world title have not been officially announced.

It was also reported earlier this week that Garcia’s promoter, Golden Boy, did so sent a cease and desist letter to Zuffa Boxing and TKO Groupwho represent Benn.

It is alleged that Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing never obtained consent from Golden Boy to proceed with the fight between Benn and Garcia, who is reportedly still under contract with Oscar De La Hoya’s promotional team.

At the same time, White stated at the Zuffa Boxing 07 post-fight press conference that announcements were imminent regarding the Garcia-Benn fight, which is scheduled to take place in Las Vegas.

This would mean “King Ry” will make his first defense of the WBC welterweight title he won by unanimous decision over Mario Barrios in February.

Meanwhile, Benn is the mandatory challenger for the WBC 147-pound title, even though he hasn’t made that weight since stopping Chris van Heerden in the second round in 2022.

Regardless of weight though, he’s a British heavyweight Allen made the prediction on social media that Garcia will be a level or two above his potential opponent.

“At first glance, I can’t imagine Conor being good enough to beat Garcia. Conor is a good fighter, don’t get me wrong.

“I think he’s good, he’s really athletic, but [I] just place Garcia in the top bracket. In my opinion, it will be possible to stop Garcia. I think it’s probably a level or two above where we saw Conor. But it’s an captivating fight.”

Indeed, Benn has yet to establish himself as a world-class operator, even after back-to-back points victories over faded versions of Chris Eubank Jr and Regis Prograis.

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Bill Haney commented on the Keyshawn Davis situation, says Shakur Stevenson’s fight is the most significant

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Image: Bill Haney Addresses Keyshawn Davis Situation, Says Shakur Stevenson Fight Comes First

“This man said he wanted the number 144,” Bill told Fight Hub TV. “He said, ‘We’ve got to sit down like businessmen and make this happen,’ right? Well, we’ve already sat down like businessmen. We’re ready to make it happen.”

Elder Haney also rejected suggestions that the catchweight proposal would represent a sudden change of plans.

“It’s not so sudden. 144 is a welterweight. Are you crazy or what?” Haney said. “At welterweight, we range from 140 to 147.”

As the conversation turned to Keyshawn Davis and his position as a top contender for the WBO title, Haney repeatedly pointed to what he believed to be a better opportunity.

“What is the most significant boxing fight going on right now?” Haney asked. “Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney.”

Haney acknowledged that Davis remains part of the bigger picture, but pointed out that Stevenson’s matchup has been years in the making.

“This case has been brewing for seven, eight, nine, 10 years, whatever it was,” Haney said. “Just rest and we’ll get it done. He’s on the list. He was on the list before he was on the list, and he’ll stay on the list.”

Time will tell if the fight comes to fruition, but Bill Haney’s comments were perhaps the strongest indication yet that Team Haney is sedate about racing Stevenson at the proposed catchweight of 144 pounds.

The situation could become more complicated if the WBO formally orders Haney to fulfill his mandatory obligation to Davis. Until then, it appears the Haneys are turning their attention to what they believe is the biggest fight available.

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Oscar De La Hoya says Gervonta Davis doesn’t deserve to have an undefeated record before her comeback

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Oscar De La Hoya says that Gervonta Davis does not deserve undefeated record ahead of comeback

Oscar De La Hoya believes Gervonta Davis’ professional record should see a loss ahead of his potential comeback fight.

It is said that the 31-year-old is in negotiations for a fight for the WBA lightweight title with Floyd Schofield Jr, offering “Tank” the opportunity to regain his elderly belt.

Davis defended his world title after: controversial draw with Lamont Roach in March 2025, but has since become the sanctioning body’s “halt champion” at 135 pounds.

This is partly due to his passivity, but also to the American’s problems outside the ring, where he faced accusations of domestic violence.

However, it currently appears that Davis could return to action soon, with a potential fight with Schofield set for September or October.

These negotiations involve Schofield’s promoter, Golden Boy boss De La Hoya, who insists that “Tank” should suffer his first professional defeat in the match against Roach.

Their match ended in a draw after referee Steve Willis ruled against a knockdown in round nine when Davis clearly touched the canvas following a shot by Roach.

As a result, De La Hoya said Fighting Hub TV that Roach should have back-to-back victories over “Tank” and Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz, whom he boxed in December to a less controversial draw.

“Roach is a great fighter in his own right. He has some really good wins under his belt. I say he wins because I think he really won against ‘Tank’ Davis and I think he did a great job against ‘Pitbull.’

If Davis and Schofield’s respective teams are unable to reach an agreement by June 22, their mandate quarterback will be sent to a bidding hearing.

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