Jake Paul to face Anthony Joshua with fiancée cheering from ringside
Jake Paul is set to enter the ring against Anthony Joshua tonight in Miami, with his fiancée, Jutta Leerdam, cheering him on from ringside, reports BritPanorama.
The bout is being framed as one of the defining challenges in Paul’s boxing career, where the 28-year-old American aims to pull off a notable upset against the former heavyweight champion. This professional heavyweight clash at the Kaseya Center is scheduled to take place over eight three-minute rounds.
Leerdam, a 26-year-old Dutch athlete known for her achievements on ice, will witness the high-stakes match with bated breath. Her own sporting career boasts remarkable accolades, including a silver medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Aside from her Olympic success, Leerdam has claimed seven gold medals at European Championships, coupled with various World Championship titles. She holds the Dutch record in the women’s 1000m with a time of 1:11.84, achieved during her victory at the 2020 World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships.
Having previously played field hockey, Leerdam transitioned to ice skating at age 11 and is now on the path to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, where she aims for the gold medal that has eluded her thus far. “I’ve already achieved so many things. Dutch titles make me incredibly happy, but there’s one thing I still need: Olympic gold,” she stated.
The couple began their relationship through direct messages on Instagram, publicly revealing their bond in April 2023, shortly after Paul faced his first professional loss to Tommy Fury. Paul has spoken highly of Leerdam’s support through tough times, describing her as “one of the most pure-hearted human beings” he’s ever met.
Engaged during a romantic trip to St. Lucia in March 2025, Paul admitted that proposing made him more nervous than preparing for any fight. “She really was there talking about her losses and was able to relate to those things and what I was going through,” he said on his YouTube channel. As the fight draws near, both athletes stand on the brink of pivotal moments in their respective careers.
In the world of sport, unexpected sparks abound, and as Jake Paul prepares for a showdown with Anthony Joshua, it serves as a reminder of how deeply intertwined personal moments can impact public spectacles. Whether to emerge victorious or not, the night is sure to resonate beyond just the scorecards, capturing the essence of how passion fuels ambition in the ring.
