Even if the pleasantly surprised Anthony Joshua perceived Jake Paul as a delightful holiday stocking stuffer who came paired with a handsome payday, he wouldn't tell you.

Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) is exuding confidence ahead of his clash against Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) on December 19 at Kaseya Center in Miami on Netflix.

The former two-time unified heavyweight champion took the podium recently for a presser and proclaimed Paul will be crushed like the outmatched opponent he’s considered to be as he embarks on a path to revive his career once more.

“I'm going to break his face,” said Joshua. “I am going to break his body up. I'm going to stomp all over him. That's my fighter's mentality. I know what it is in my heart. I know what is in my mind. I am here to compete and prove to myself that I am the better fighter.

“I'm going to come forward, impose myself, land heavy punches and expose him to certain tricks in boxing that he may not have seen yet. I am going to bring him to another school of boxing that I don't think he's been exposed to yet.

“I need to cut him up, I need to break him up and I need to hurt him. I need to knock him out. There is nothing more than that.”

Joshua can’t afford to waste too much time with Paul. The more Paul lasts, the more questions Joshua will have to answer afterward. Joshua, who’s been installed as over a minus-1000 betting favorite by most sportsbooks, is approaching the eight-round fight with a modicum of respect toward Paul.

“I'm not above the challenge. I have to work hard with my head down and get the job done. You can’t underestimate anyone,” said Joshua.

“I see talent, focus, [he] puts in the work, [has] a good team — nothing negative. That's why he's here now. He's here to do his job. I can sit here and address all of the things that Jake doesn't do well … Anyone out there in the world that works harder than the next person deserves to be a frontrunner, and he's a frontrunner in the boxing game right now.

“I take it seriously. He has a conqueror's mentality. His mentality is solid. It's better than Tyson Fury's. Jake is sitting here. So I take him seriously in preparation and give him the respect that he deserves.”

Joshua is 6-4 since 2019 and hasn’t fought since a devastating fifth-round stoppage loss against Daniel Dubois in September 2024. Elbow surgery followed, and Joshua was supposed to be featured in Saudi Arabia on “The Ring IV: Night of the Champions” on November 22 against Cassius Chaney until the Paul plans popped up.

Joshua is expected to get past Paul, fight again in February and look like his old self in both contests to lure Fury out of retirement for a fall matchup.

“I'm going to be a tough man to break down, because I have been building myself over the last year. I haven't been sitting back. I've been working,” said Joshua.

“I know what I can do, and I can't wait to show it. I am not going to crumble. I'm solid. I've been through wars, and I am still standing super strong because I have the hunger and desire.

“It's a great opportunity for me to announce myself as a dominant figure once again. I want to be up just as much as people want to see me down. I'm hungry, devoted and dedicated to chasing what I need to be.

“I am going there for a job. I want to really hurt him in the ring. I have to break his delusion and bring him down to a reality check in the ring.”