Who is Jake Paul's trainer? Meet the man preparing YouTube star turned fighter for his Anthony Joshua clash

For the first time in his burgeoning boxing career, Jake Paul will step into the ring as an underdog.

Since he made his first tentative steps into the unforgiving world of prizefighting, Paul has come under significant scrutiny from the combat sports community.

His detractors assert that Paul's career has been carefully stage-managed, that each successive opponent has been selected to maintain a sense of a jeopardy whilst remaining thoroughly beatable based on his developing skills. Initially taking on fellow crossover stars, to bringing MMA fighters out of their comfort zone, to finally outworking boxing's stars of yesteryear inside the ring.

In the seven years since he first strapped on the gloves, few could argue that Paul hasn't made significant leaps in terms of technical ability.

Once relying solely on his innate athleticism, Paul's team of world-class trainers have allowed the 28-year-old to develop a style that makes up for many of the limitations that are inherent with picking up the sport later in life. Such skills have allowed Paul to put UFC great Anderson Silva to the canvas, deliver a crushing KO of Tyron Woodley and overwhelm experienced, if unheralded, career boxers in the form of Andre August and Ryan Bourland.

Climbing the Everest that is two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua however, represents an entirely different proposition.

Paul has previously overcome disadvantages in size (Tyson), skill (Silva), and experience (Cesar Chavez Jr). Against Joshua he will come in as the lesser fighter in all three of those areas, and his team have been left with the unenviable task of attempting to find a route to victory regardless.

With the fight now just days away, we've taken a look in-depth look at the man behind preparing Paul for the toughest fight of his career.

Theo Chambers

The latest elite-level trainer to have emerged from the legendary Kronk gym, Theo Chambers has earned a reputation for his ability to bring the best out of his fighters.

An adherent of the late Emanuel Steward, Chambers has worked with a number of world champions, but it was his association with former super middleweight contender J'Leon Love that first brought him into Paul's orbit.

Love has been a part of Paul's camp since he took his first fledgling steps into the ring and the 38-year-old reportedly attempted to get Chambers involved with the project, only to be initially rebuffed.

Chambers told SunSport that he initially had no interest in taking Paul on as one of his fighters, but maintained an interest in his career from a distance.

“Every fight that Jake had, J’Leon was there,' Chambers told the publication. "He would always call me before the fights. ‘Hey, watch it on TV, watch it, watch it.’

“And you know, because I love J’Leon, he’s my brother and I’ve been training him since he was 15 years old, so I watched the kid.

“And it ain’t so much me looking at skill-wise, it’s where’s his heart? Where’s his passion at to even be a boxer.

“But when he fought Anderson Silva, that’s what let me know that he had it in him. Then when he fought [Tommy] Fury, even in his loss with Fury with me he won.

“So then when they came back around to me, ‘Would you train Jake?’ I said yes I will train Jake.”

Chambers has seen been tasked with putting through his paces ahead of the biggest clash of his career.

In order to fully prepare Paul for the scale of the challenger that stands before him, Chambers has enlisted the help of a number of top sparring partners, including former cruiserweight champion Lawrence Okolie, Cuban star Frank Sanchez and top US prospect Jared Anderson.

In the weeks leading up to the fight Paul has been seen sporting a black eye; reportedly the result of a hard sparring session with Okolie.

Speaking on his experiences going toe-to-toe with experienced heavyweight contenders on a regular basis, Paul insisted that the hard work prove invaluable ahead of Friday's clash.

"We have a couple of amazing heavyweights," Paul said."World champion Lawrence Okolie. Six foot six, 260lbs. He is an absolute monster.

"We have got Frank Sanchez, ' The Cuban Flash', from Canelo's camp."One of the best guys I have sparred. Speed, power, and head movement.

"And then we have Jared Anderson, another amazing heavyweight. It's been tough; it has been a lot of learning. I am sore everywhere.

"I'm getting used to taking the big punches to the arms, to the face, to the body."I'm having to fight in a different way than I've had to fight before."