Former two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will tackle YouTube star Jake Paul in an expert boxing match on December nineteenth on the Caseya Middle in Miami, Florida, which will likely be streamed solely on Netflix. The bout marked a dramatic change in matchmaking after Paul’s scheduled exhibition bout with Gervonta Davis was canceled following a civil lawsuit towards the light-weight champion.
Anthony Joshua vs. Jake Paul is booked for December nineteenth
The bout will likely be contested as an eight-round sanctioned skilled heavyweight bout utilizing 10-ounce gloves, and the consequence will likely be mirrored in each fighters’ official data. Joshua will likely be restricted to 245 kilos, seven kilos lower than his earlier outing. Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn mentioned the bout was not an exhibition, however an actual combat underneath Queensbury guidelines.
Joshua, 36, will return to the ring for the primary time since dropping to IBF champion Daniel Dubois by fifth-round knockout at Wembley Stadium in September 2024. Paul, 28, introduced a document of 12 wins, 1 loss, and seven KOs into this combat. Most lately, he defeated former middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. by unanimous resolution in June.
The matchup marks a big step up in competitors for Paul, who has constructed his boxing profession primarily towards combined martial artists, social media celebrities and retired boxers. He has by no means confronted an energetic heavyweight in his 13-fight skilled profession. Joshua boasts greater than 160 rounds {of professional} expertise in comparison with Paul’s 70 complete rounds since 2020.
Paul was initially scheduled to face Tank Davis in an exhibition match on November 14th, however Most Priceless Promotions canceled the occasion after Davis was named in a civil lawsuit by his ex-girlfriend accusing him of aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping and intentional infliction of emotional misery. The lawsuit was filed in Miami-Dade County in late October. Following the cancellation, Paul’s crew pursued different opponents, together with Francis Ngannou, Ryan Garcia, and Edgar Berlanga.
Paul’s co-promotion firm, Most Priceless Promotions, and Netflix confirmed the match on November seventeenth. The sport will likely be streamed reside worldwide on Netflix beginning December nineteenth at 8pm ET at no further price past your subscription. The match will happen on the venue the place Paul was initially scheduled to face Davis.
“This isn’t an AI simulation. That is Judgment Day,” Paul mentioned in an announcement. “An expert heavyweight combat towards an elite world champion in his prime. Once I defeated Anthony Joshua, all doubts disappeared and nobody might deny me the chance to combat for a world title.”
Joshua responded with comparable confidence. “Jake or anybody can get this job. There isn’t any mercy,” he mentioned. “I took a while off, however I am coming again with a mega present. This can be a big alternative for me. Prefer it or not, I am right here to remain cool, calm, collected and do the massive matches, combat the massive fights, and break all of the data. Mark my phrases. You are going to see extra fighters reap the benefits of these alternatives sooner or later. I will break the Web with my Jake Paul face.”
Nakisa Bidalian, CEO of Most Priceless Promotions, described the bout as a conflict between boxing’s previous and future. “Everybody laughed when Jake Paul mentioned in March that he needed to combat AJ in 2026,” Vidalian mentioned. “Plans modified and in lower than two weeks, MVP and Netflix are set to have one of many greatest fights in historical past. Joshua has all the pieces in his favor on this combat, aside from one factor – Jake Paul’s delusional confidence. If anybody can shock the world, it is him.”
Joshua received gold for Nice Britain within the tremendous heavyweight division on the 2012 London Olympics and turned skilled with Matchroom Boxing in October 2013. Throughout his 12-year skilled profession, he has defeated notable opponents similar to Wladimir Klitschko, Dillian Whyte, Joseph Parker, Alexander Povetkin and Kubrat Pulev. His 4 losses got here towards Andy Ruiz Jr., twice towards Oleksandr Usyk, and most lately towards Dubois.
Particulars of the undercard card haven’t been formally introduced, however it’s anticipated to function fighters from the unique Davis card. The occasion will likely be out there to stream in all international locations the place Netflix operates.
