The only time Anthony Joshua fought in the United States was in June 2019, when he was the heavyweight champion and heavy favorite expected to bulldoze late replacement Andy Ruiz.

Fast forward more than six years later, and Joshua will return to American soil on December 19 in Miami as a late-replacement opponent to take on Jake Paul.

Many believe the inexperienced Paul’s chances are slim to none, and that "slim" has as much chance of reaching South Beach as snow does in the Sunshine State.

Despite being installed as a massive betting underdog, Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) proclaims that he’s going to give a pugilistic lesson to the former two-time unified heavyweight champion of the world.

"This is Andy Ruiz 2.0," Paul said during a recent press conference. “For sure [this would be the biggest upset in boxing history]. Right up there with Mike Tyson versus Buster Douglas. I am going to go in there and shock the world.

“I know this is challenging, but I know what I am capable of. This is going to be fun. I want him to cut me up. I want him to break my face. But guess what? He's going to have to kill me to stop [me], and I am seriously ready to die in the ring to win this fight.”

Paul also painted a picture of turning into the second-coming of Oleksandr Usyk as he seeks to accomplish the unthinkable.

“I'm quick, fast, great footwork, big chin, and can take shots, lionhearted, sneaky knockout punches coming, lots of great work to the body. People underestimate my jab,” said Paul.

“He's one of the best heavyweights ever, but I believe fighting a smaller man is often times harder as a heavyweight because of the speed difference. All of that power is great, and I just have to avoid that one shot for eight rounds. I can do that.

"I know I can jab and weave and pick him apart and score points and make this a big contest. People are saying they respect me for getting in there. No, respect me because I am about to win.”

Paul even pressed Joshua and said that he’ll fold under pressure if the fight gets uncomfortable. He’s also confident considering Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) is 6-4 over his last 10 fights since losing to Ruiz.

Joshua hasn’t fought since suffering a fifth-round stoppage loss against Daniel Dubois in September of last year.

“One thousand percent Anthony [has more pressure in this fight],” said Paul. “This is something that's going to weigh on him. I'm going in there, and I can fight free. If he starts getting touched up and loses rounds, I think the cookie will crumble.”