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Former two-time unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is set to face YouTube personality-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a professional fight scheduled for next month. The event will take place at the Kaseya Center in Miami on December 19, with the match being streamed live on Netflix. The bout will last eight rounds, each lasting three minutes, marking a significant occasion as Joshua returns to the ring following his recent defeat by Daniel Dubois in September 2024.
Joshua, 36, who previously weighed over 250 pounds during his last three fights, will need to weigh in below 245 pounds for this contest. Both fighters are required to wear standard 10-ounce gloves. This fight replaces Paul’s initially planned exhibition bout against Gervonta Davis, which was canceled due to a lawsuit involving Davis. Jake Paul, 28, expressed his confidence ahead of the fight, stating, “This isn’t an AI simulation. This is Judgment Day,” adding, “When I beat Anthony Joshua, every doubt disappears, and no-one can deny me the opportunity to fight for a world title. To all my haters, this is what you wanted.”
Paul, who gained fame from his YouTube channel with nearly 21 million subscribers, has transitioned fully into boxing over recent years. Primarily competing as a cruiserweight around 200 pounds, he fought as a heavyweight when he defeated Mike Tyson in a widely viewed 2024 exhibition match weighing 227.5 pounds. Paul also claimed a victory over former middleweight world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., winning by unanimous decision, which earned him a ranking of 14th in the WBA cruiserweight division. Despite holding a professional record of 12 wins and 1 loss with seven knockouts, Paul has only participated in around 70 professional rounds. In contrast, Joshua brings over a decade of experience and has fought more than 160 rounds.
The announcement of this match came after initial denials and has raised questions about Joshua’s future in elite boxing. Industry insiders have expressed mixed opinions on the matchup. Nakisa Bidarian, CEO of Most Valuable Promotions, described the day as remarkable and revealed that Paul had long wanted to face Joshua, originally aiming for 2026. Promoter Frank Warren highlighted the risks for both fighters, emphasizing Joshua’s vulnerability while acknowledging Paul’s step up in competition. British heavyweight Moses Itauma, a training partner of Joshua, called the fight “terrible,” warning Paul to reconsider and implying it posed a significant danger, while also understanding the financial motivation for Joshua to accept the fight. Itauma said, “Your kids can’t eat legacy. If you’re talking about getting paid hundreds of millions of dollars to fight a YouTuber, why not?”
BBC Sport’s Ade Adedoyin reflected on the surprising nature of the bout, questioning if it was initially a publicity move, given the stark contrast between the fighters’ experience levels. Joshua’s extensive career has included matches against some of boxing’s elite, while Paul’s highest-profile opponents pale in comparison. Itauma criticized Paul’s decision, citing the mismatch, but acknowledged the event’s commercial appeal due to Paul’s large online following. Adedoyin pointed out that despite promoter Eddie Hearn’s initial plans for Joshua to face Tyson Fury next year and seek a tune-up fight against a lesser-known opponent, the lucrative offer for this fight was too significant to pass up, with earnings for Joshua reported to be as much as £50 million. This matchup, between a decorated former world champion and a prominent internet figure, showcases the evolving landscape of professional boxing
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