Lawrence Okolie Offers to Spar with Jake Paul Ahead of Joshua Showdown

British heavyweight Lawrence Okolie has offered to assist Jake Paul in his preparations for the upcoming fight against Anthony Joshua, even volunteering to spar with the YouTuber-turned-boxer.

The Paul-Joshua clash, an eight-round professional bout using 10-ounce gloves, was officially announced on Monday. The fight marks Joshua’s return to the ring since his Round 5 knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024.

Okolie, a former cruiserweight champion with a 22-1 record and 16 knockouts, is set to fight on the same night as the Paul-Joshua bout, December 19 in Nigeria. This will be his first fight since July, when he tore his bicep in the opening round of his last match. Currently training in Dubai, Okolie cited curiosity and concern for Paul’s safety as his reasons for offering help.

“I want to go help Jake Paul and give him a real feel for what it’s like to face a world-class heavyweight,” Okolie said. “I don’t want to see him get absolutely destroyed if AJ turns it on. I have my fight coming up, but I’d go for a couple of weeks to help him prepare and understand what he’s up against.”

Having previously sparred with Joshua, Okolie acknowledged the size and skill difference but didn’t dismiss the possibility of a longer bout. “Crazier things have happened,” he said. “If Jake Paul lands a shot and doesn’t finish it, that’s when it will get interesting. But we’ll see.”